ELECTROLYTE LEAKAGE AND RELATIVE WATER CONTENT AS AFFECTED BY ORGANIC MULCH IN OKRA PLANT (ABELMOSCHUS ESCULENTUS (L.) MOENCH) GROWN UNDER SALINITY

The present study was carried out to determine the effect of organic mulch with or without gypsum amendment on relative water content (RWC) and electrolyte leakage (EL) in leaves of okra (lady finger) plant grown under saline water irrigation. The plants were grown in pots irrigated with SI (EC^sub iw^ = 2.0 dSm^sup -1^), S2 (EC^sub iw^ = 4.2 dSm^sup -1^) and non-saline control (EC^sub iw^ = 0.5 dSm^sup -1^). Increased EL was noted under salinity without mulch treatments, whereas, application of mulch reduce EL under all salinity treatments. Greater reduction was recorded under mulch amended with gypsum as compare to mulch alone. RWC in leaves of okra was proportionally decreased with increasing salinity. Organic mulch alone or amended with gypsum showed increased RWC under all salinities as compare to without mulch treatments. Results of the present study suggested that application of organic mulch to the soil surface can improves salinity tolerance up to certain extent and the mulch with gypsum up to greater extent by improving RWC and reducing EL in plant which are responsible for improvement of growth as well.