Effect of Sodium Chloride on Germination and Emergence of Moringa ( Moringa oleifera L.) Seeds

Abstract

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate sodium chloride (NaCl) tolerance of moringa tree (Moringa oleifera L.) at germination and emergence. The first experiment evaluated germination percentage, mean time of germination and germination uniformity at four NaCl concentrations (0, 40, 80 and 160 mM NaCl/l) on filter paper in Petri dishes in the seed laboratory of Seed Administration, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Khartoum. The other experiment evaluated emergence percentage, mean emergence time, emergence uniformity and seedling fresh and dry weights at four NaCl concentrations ( 0.0, 0. 2, 0.4 and 0.8% NaCl w/w of soil, resembling 1.8, 4, 8 and 16 electric conductivity (Ec) of the soil solution) on soil ( 1.8 Ec and 7.5 pH) in plastic bags in the nursery of the Department of Horticulture, College of Agricultural Studies, Sudan University of Science and Technology at 370C and 170C mean maximum and minimum temperatures, respectively. Both experiments were laid in completely randomized design with four replications. Germination was only significantly decreased by the highest NaCl concentration (160 mM/l), whereas mean germination time and germination uniformity were significantly retarded by the lowest concentration (40 mM/l). NaCl concentrations higher than 0.2 % (4 dS/m Ec) had significant effects on emergence and its attributes as well as seedlings growth. The reductions of all growth parameters ranged between 30% and 90% at the lowest (0.2% NaCl) and the highest (0.8% NaCl) concentrations, respectively. It could be concluded that moringa may be considered as NaCl sensitive at germination and emergence but to be tolerant at other stages. For utilization of salt affected soils with moringa seedlings which could be raised in the nursery on soils of low or no NaCl.