Germination Responses of Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa L.) Seeds to Various Salt-Alkaline Mixed Stress

Salinization and alkalization in soil frequently co-occur in agriculture ecosystem, and directly affect plant production. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is important forage with good quality and high yield. Its production is markedly influenced by those attributes of soils, especially mixed salt-alkali stress. However, the knowledge on seeds germination linked to mixed salt-alkali stress received little attention, though seeds germination influence plant yields. In this study, we assessed that the effects of 30 mixed salt-alkali combinations (NaCl, Na2SO4, NaHCO3, and Na2CO3; salinity 24 to 120 mmol/L and pH 7.03 to 10.69) on germination of alfalfa seeds. Results are reported.