Comparative Effect of sodium chloride, potassium chloride and combined salt stress on germination and growth of Triticum aestivum L. (Var. Atta Habib)

The impact of different concentrations (100, 150, 200 and 250 mM) of NaCl, KCl and combined (NaCl + KCl) salts stress in equal amounts was studied on germination and some growth parameters of Triticum aestivum L. variety Atta Habib in laboratory and field experiment. Results showed that 100 mM of NaCl and KCl had the least effect on germination and growth of Wheat. However, under all the higher concentrations 150, 200 mM of NaCl, KCl marked decrease in radicle length, plumule length, germination rate, whereas higher concentrations 150, 200 and 250 mM of NaCl, KCl effected stem length, leaf length, number of leaves, number of tillers, spike length, number of grains per spike, whole plant weight and weight of 50 grains was recorded and the comparison was done with control plants. In combined salts stress pronounced reduction was recorded at all concentrations in germination and growth processes of Triticum aestivum L. From the results, it was concluded that by increasing concentrations of salts the effect became more pronounced in all salt treatments. The results revealed that the effects of combined salts on the Triticum aestivum L. were more pronounced as compared to the effects when the plant were treated with salts alone.