PJB-2003-111
GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF COTTON ROOTS AT VARIOUS SOIL TEXTURES UNDER SALINE CONDITIONS
ZAHIDA NAVEED GOHAR, RAFIQ AHMAD AND HUMAIRA GUL
Abstract
The effect of sandy and clayey loams was studied on the growth and development of roots of cotton seedlings at different soil salinity levels. Plastic bags were filled with soils of different textures and made saline with 0.4 % (EC 4.44 dS/m in sandy loam, 5.45 dS/m in clayey loam) and 0.8 % (EC 8.2 dS/m in sandy loam, 9.05 dS/m in clay loam) dilutions of sea salt. Seven days old seedlings were transplanted in these plastic bags and allowed to grow for forty days. The soil was later washed out from the roots very carefully leaving undamaged root system at sieve, which was examined thoroughly. Roots were found thicker in clayey loam as compared to sandy loam, but in both the cases root thickness decreased with an increase in salinity. Primary roots were longer in sandy loam in control and 0.4 % soil salinity, but at 0.8 % soil salinity it was longer in clayey loam. Number of secondary roots was comparatively more in sandy loam at 0.4 % salinity treatment, but at 0.8 % salinity treatment it was more in clayey loam. Average length of secondary roots was longer in clayey loam. Tertiary root development was much more in clayey loam but decreased with the increasing salinity in both the soil textures. Root and shoot biomass, height of seedlings and number of leaves were comparatively more in clayey loam. Salinity did affect the shoot growth but over all it was much better in clayey loam, in above mentioned range of salinity than that of sandy loam.
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