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RESPONSES OF SPOROBOLUS ARABICUS AND SESBANIA AEGYPTICA AS AFFECTED BY DENSITY, SALINITY OF IRRIGATION WATER AND INTER-CROPPING

RAFIQ AHMAD AND SYED HASAN ZAHEER

Abstract: Sporobolus arabicus and Sesbania aegyptica grown in sandy soil as mono- and mix-culture using saline water (ECiw: 6 & 12 dS.m^-1) for irrigation showed that the productivity of grass - legume mix-culture per unit area was much higher irrespective of the salinity of irrigation water. Reduction in growth of S. aegyptica at higher salinty (ECiw: 12 dS.m^-1) was more as compared to S. arabicus. No significant reduction in growth of S. aegyptica was observed at low salinity (ECiw: 6 dS.m^-1), whereas growth in S. arabicus was promoted. Increase in proline content at higher salinity was evident in S. aegyptica with no effect in S. arabicus. Alteration in the absorption of radiant energy (quantum yield) were non-significant in Sporobolus in response to salinity and cropping system, while Sesbania plants showed a positive response with respect to salinity and inter-cropping with Sporobolus. The same trend was evident for stomatal conductance. Transpiration rate of Sporobolus was low when grown as mix-culture, while that of Sesbania was highly reduced by salinity under both cropping systems.

Department of Botany, University of Karachi, Karachi-75270, Pakistan.