Effect of B₉ on Flowering and Yield of Cowpea and Gram Under Saline Conditions

Sand culture experiment was conducted to study the effect of salinity and B₉ spray on cowpea (Vigna un-guiculata L.) and gram (Cicer arietinum L.). Salinity inhibited flowering and yield of both cowpea and gram (Cicer arietinum L.) the effect being more on latter. The plants of gram either did not survive or failed to flower or yield when the salinity level exceeded 15 me salts/1. Application of 500 ppm of B₉ increased the number of flowers, pods, seeds and seed test weight in cowpea both in control and saline treatments. While the same concentration of B₉ did not affect flowering and yield in control treatment of gram, it alleviated some of the deleterious affects of salinity on flowering and yield.