On Improving Seed Germination and Seedling Growth in Rice under Minimal Soil Salinity

Aims: It was assumed that two- way approach i.e. nutrient-priming with potassium salt of the seeds and later on ammonium sulphate application may be binary beneficial for growth of rice besides evidencing genetic variability under salt stress

Study Design: The experiment was laid out in Complete Randomized Design with three replications.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in laboratory and glass house of Soil Salinity Research Programme of Land Resources Research Institute at National Agricultural research Centre, Islamabad, Pakistan during the period from May to August, 2016.

Methodology: Seeds of Oryza sativa (cv. KS-282 and BAS 385) were primed with potassium nitrate. In the second phase of the study, the primed seeds were raised in a minimal saline soil with ammonium sulphate nutrition gradually up to 150 mg Kg -1.

Results: Bas-385 was more responsive for mean germination time than KS-282. In Bas-385 and KS-282 germination was 100 and 90 percent. Germination rate index of Bas-385 was 16 percent higher than that of KS-282. Biomass of Bas-385 seedlings was higher than that of KS-282 with the treatments. In both the cultivars of rice, Na+/K+ ratio was in antagonistic relation R = (- 0.99) with the gradual increase in ammonium sulphate application. Potassium ion was accordant with sulphate ion and N concentration. Bas-385 was more tolerant to KS-282 based on Na+/K+ ratio and bio mass.

Conclusion: BAS 385 (salt sensitive) superseded to KS-282 (salt tolerant) under minimal salt stress due to nutrient priming and then enhanced nutrition.