Department of Soils, Haryana Agricultural University, Hissar
Studies were carried out in the glass-house in plastic pots (15 cm dia.) in sand culture using Hoagland nutrient solution to find out the specific ion effect on the early seedling growth in wheat (Triticum aestivum L), c.v. K-227. Seeds were sown in sixteen different solutions of chloride, sulphate, nitrate, carbonate salts of sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium used each at −2 bar osmotic po ential. Osmotic as well as salt stress decreased tremendously almost all the parameters of growth studied (germination, plant hegiht, fresh and dry weight of roots and shoots). There was lesser reduction in growth in potassium and calcium salts than that in sodium and magnesium salts. Overall effect of anions showed that carbonate, bicarbonate, dihydrogen phosphate salts reduced growth more than chloride, sulphate and nitrate salts. In general, the crop growth response varied not only with the type of the cation but also depended on the accompanying anion.
