Effect of Soil Salinity on Germination, Growth, Yield and Quality of Marigold

Pot culture experiment was carried out in the net house of Water Technology Centre, Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi during 2005. Marigold (var. Pusa Narangi Gainda) was grown in sandy loam soil in the pots having six levels of salinity (EC₂=control, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 dSm⁻¹). The effect of these soil salinity treatments was observed on the germination, relative growth characteristics, flower yield and quality paramerters of marigold plants. Results of the experiment indicated that marigold (var. Pusa Narangi Gainda) can survive up to EC₁₀ if transplanted in soil. However, marigold seeds of this variety could not germinate beyond EC₆. Plant growth parameters such as plant height, primary and secondary branches, leaf number, leaf area, stem diameter, plant spread and root length decreased significantly with increasing soil salinity. Soil salinity also affected the yield parametersi.e. number of flowers and flower yield in marigold. Quality parameter of the flowers i.e. shelf life of cut flowers of marigold decreased significantly with increasing salinity levels. However, there was increase in carotenoids content in flowers of marigold with increase in soil salinity levels. Marigold could be grown up to soil salinity (EC_e) of 10 dS m⁻¹ with moderate reduction in growth and yield of the crop.