Effects of salt stress on micronutrients absorption in some lentil (Lens culinaris Medic.) genotypes at seedling stage

The effects of salinity on micronutrients accumulation in some cultivars of lentil were studied. Seedlings of 10 varieties of lentil (lens culinaris) were raised in Petridishes lined with filter papers and moistened with saline solutions (0, 3, 6, 7.2,10, 12,14 dSm⁻¹), prepared by mixing salts of NaCl, CaCl₂, Na₂So₄ and NaHCo₃. Micronutrients were analyzed in 10 days old seedlings. All cultivars of lentil were also tested for the uptake of micronutrients in the seedling raised under saline irrigations. Findings revealed that Iron content gradually decreased from 3 to 14 dSm⁻¹, however, the varietal differences were evident. IPL-81 and PL-639 registered higher reductions as compared to DPL-15 and PL-406. Salinity altered Cu uptake in lentil. In general, there were insignificant reductions in all genotype at 3 and 6 dSm⁻¹. The Cu content significantly reduced thereafter i.e. 7.2 to 14 dSm⁻¹. Mn content reduced in all the cultivars with increasing salinity levels except cultivars DPL-15 and IPL-81 at 3 and 6 dSm⁻¹ when compared with control.