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INTRODUCTION
In a previous paper (Ayoub, 1975), the importance of senna (Cassia acutifolia) as a
promising irrigated cash crop was put forward. The crop requires high temperatures
and an abundance of sunlight (Gupta, 1971), and these conditions prevail in the
more arid parts of the Sudan where soil salinity and alkalinity problems may be
important. A study was, therefore, undertaken on the effects of salt levels, salt
types, and soil alkalinity on senna germination, vegetative growth, yield, and
mineral composition. Some environmental factors which may effect salt tolerance
by senna, such as watering interval and air temperature, were also included in
these studies. The present paper reports some primary features of these studies.
RESULTS
Effect and NaCl levels on seed germination
Senna seed germination never exceeded 75 per cent and under field conditions the
maximum germination obtained was usually less than 60 per cent. This low germina-
tion percentage is mainly due to the presence of 'hard' seeds which do not imbibe
486 Ayoub—Salt Tolerance in Senna
100-
90
80-
— 70-
| 6 0 -
I 50-
8
30-
20-
10
0
4 5 6
Days from sowing
FIG. 1. Senna seed germination at different NaCl levels. The numbers on the graph are NaCl
solution conductivities in mmhos cm"1 at 25 °C.
water even after 10 d soaking. Laboratory tests have indicated that these seeds
have an impermeable seed coat. The data shown in Fig. 1, presenting germination
percentage in relation to different salt levels of the substrate, are therefore based on
germinable seeds.
Control seeds completed germination on the 7th day. Seed germination was
satisfactory up to a salt level of about 16-0 mmhos cm"1 NaCl. Between salt levels
of 20-0 and 24-0 mmhos cm"1 germination was reduced 50 per cent and beyond the
salt level of 30-0 mmhos cm"1 germination was almost inhibited.
35. Beyond that level some seeds germinated, but most of the seedlings died shortly
after that. Seedlings growing in ESP levels of 25 or more were stunted and had
bleached-yellowish (chlorotic) secondary leaves. The effect of ESP was, there-
fore, more pronounced at the seedling growth stage than during seed germination.
5 100-0 100-0
15 96-3 601
25 88-9 45-8
35 88-9 32-8
45 48-2 25-0
55 33-3 100
TABLE 2. Effect of equal conductances of different salt types on senna growth, survival, and mineral composition
Sftlt treatments Relative Plant Mineral contents (mBq per 100 g dry wt.)
growth survival
Type mmhos cm"1 ITIM Na Mg Ca Cl
No salt 0-2 1-4 100 100 4-6 73-9 60-9 69-9 4-9
NaCl 2-5 22-0 96 100 4-4 67-5 44-4 87-3 18-2
50 43-9 66 88 6-9 60-9 51-0 95-8 34-2
100 87-8 29 49 19-9 57-0 41-9 103-8 106-6
20-0 175-6 17 19 38-0 42-7 38-7 124-8 121-2
CaCla 2-5 14-6 100 100 4-5 64-5 105-3 87-3 190
5-0
10-0
20-0
29-3
58-0
117-2
41
23
12
86
54
14
7-1
31
8-2
54-5
52-4
53-2
116-0
120-0
100-3
108-3
112-3
143-7
04-0
94-0
186-0
r
Na 2 SO 4 2-5 16-5 79 94 12-3 64-7 105-3 05-9 7-5
5-0 33-0 89 97 14-1 63-4 83-9 60-4 7-7
10-0 66-0 61 85 13-6 65-2 60-0 91-3
20-0 132-0 23 25 16-7 58-1 53-5 87-3 9-5
Effect of frequency of irrigation ivith salt water on senna yield and yield components
Results of senna pod yield and yield components from different NaCl levels are
shown in Table 3.
' Pod yield was significantly affected by salt levels, frequency of irrigation, and
their interaction. Watering every 7 d with lower-salt waters resulted in appreciably
higher yields than watering every 14 d. Contrary to this, frequent irrigation with
high-salt waters injured plants and resulted in lower pod yields than irrigation
every 14 d with the same water.
The number of pods per pot in the various treatments were comparable to pod
6-0-
• Logy =4-9889-00129*
r - -0-895 /><0001
5-0-
ve pod yield
•
3 3-0-
2
eo
3 2-0-
l-0<
ft-0
55 110 165 220 275
Leaf bUde O (mEq/100 g dry wt.)
F I G . 3. Relation between senna leaf chloride content and log per cent relative pod yield.
Ayoub—Salt Tolerance in Senna 491
1
to 10-1 mmhos cm" reductions of 65 and 35 per cent were found in dry matter and
plant height, respectively. Increasing the watering interval from 7 to 14 d reduced
both parameters but not significantly.
The relationship between pod yield and Cl contents of senna leaves is demon-
strated in Fig. 3. Significant yield reduction occurred when the Cl content of the
blade was above 28 mEq per 100 g dry wt. Fifty per cent yield reduction occurred
at Cl content of about 62 mEq, and at Cl content of greater than 110 mEq pod yield
was very low. The Na contents also varied with NaCl levels, but these variations
seemed to be of minor magnitude.
DISCUSSION
Senna was shown to be fairly tolerant of salinity at the germination stage. A 50
LITERATURE CITED
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O'LEARY, J. W., 1975. PL Soil, 42, 717-21.
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