Effect of different salt concentrations on some forage pea cultivars during germination and early seedling stage

Abstract

As a result of the rapid increase in the world population, the problem of balanced and adequate nutrition has emerged, and at this point, the importance of animal production has increased even more. In this respect, there is a need to increase the cultivation areas of forage crops, as well as the correct management and reclamation of pastures for adequate and balanced nutrition of our existing animals. For this reason, forage pea (Pisum sativum L.), which has high nutritional value and is preferred by animals, is an important forage crop to meet this need. Salinity significantly limits the growth of the plant and causes yield losses. This abiotic stress negatively affects forage peas. In order to reveal the differences in the germination of forage pea varieties at different salt concentrations and the differences in the physical properties of the roots and seedlings, the effect of different salt concentrations on nine different varieties of forage peas was carried out in Bilecik Şeyh Edebali University, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, Agricultural Research and Biotechnology Center Laboratories in 2022. In the research, the effects of nine different field types (Ürünlü, Töre, Ateş, Guifredo, Taşkent, Özkaynak, Kurtbey, Uysal and Nany) at one control and eight different salt concentrations (25, 50, 75, 100, 125, 150, 175 and 200 mM) on germination and seedling growth were examined. The experiment was carried out according to Completely Randomized Factorial Designs with 3 replications. In the research; germination speed and power, root dry and fresh weight, root dry and fresh length, seedling dry and fresh weight, seedling dry and fresh length were examined. According to the results obtained, a significant decrease was observed in germination rate, germination strength, root-shoot length and wet-dry weights of forage pea varieties due to increasing salt concentration. It has been determined that Tore field pea variety has the highest germination rate and power. Tore field pea showed 100% germination speed and power up to 150 mM salt concentration. In addition, Töre variety is followed by Ateş variety in all parameters. The varieties with the lowest germination rate and vigour were Guifredo and Uysal. As a result, the growth of forage pea varieties slowed down due to increasing salt concentration.