EFFECT OF DIFFERENT LEVELS OF SALT STRESS ON GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF INDIAN SPINACH (Basella alba L.)

Abstract

From November 2020 to January 2021, the experiment was done at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University's Agroforestry experimental area to determine the impact of salt on morphophysiological

and yield contributing features of indian spinach (Basella alba L.). The experimental treatments were considered six different levels of salinity viz. S 0 = no salt (control), S 1 = 25 mM, S 2 = 50 mM, S 3 = 75 mM, S 4 = 100 mM and S 5 = 150 mM NaCl. Planting material was selected from the varieties BARI Puishak 1 (Chitra) and BARI Puishak 2. With three replications, the experiment was set up using a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The tallest plant (106.91 cm), the most branches per plant (13.51), the longest leaf (10.62 cm), the widest leaf (8.42 cm), the largest leaf area (85.54 cm 2 ), the number of leaves per plant (40.83), and the largest plant diameter (1.59 cm). The S0 or controlled condition had the highest SPAD value (74.83), maximum germination (77.76%), plant fresh weight (417.18 gm), highest plant dry weight (60.36 gm), and largest dry matter (14.40 %), while the S 5 (150 mM NaCl) treatment had the lowest value. S 5 or 150 ds/m salt had the highest moisture content (88.87 %). From S 0 to S 5 , the highest to lowest value gradually reduced. Finally, it can be stated that from S 0 to S 5 , cultivating under saline water (100 mM NaCl) treatment resulted in a drop in yield. As a result, the cultivar may be grown in the southern portion of Bangladesh, where saline levels can reach 100 mM NaCl.