Indian Journal of Plant Physiology

Twelve varieties of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) were grown at 0, 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20 m mhos/cm EC levels using NaCl, NaHCO₃, Na₂SO₄ and CaCl₂ together. Tolerance of the varieties to salt stress differed significantly at different salinity levels. Percentage germination decreased with increasing salinity levels and varieties DL-70 and RDB-57 showed only 13–16% germination at 20 m mhos/cm EC level. Length and dry weight of shoot and root decreased as the level of salt stress increased except in varieties DL-157 and DL-171 which showed initially an increasing trend upto 12 m mhos/cm EC level and declined thereafter. Number of roots also decreased as the level of salt stress increased in all the varieties.