Effects of Salinity on Seedling Growth and Physiological Traits of Vetiver Grass (Vetiveria zizanioides Stapf

Vetiver grass (Vetiveria zizanioides) is known to be survived under the diverse soil and water conditions. In order to study the effects of salinity stress on the seedling growth of the desired species, a completely randomized design was conducted with 3 replications. Seeds were sown in the salty-soil plots in the greenhouse. Salinity levels were specified as 4 control ones including 20, 30 and 40 dS/m. Results showed that the seedling growth and yield were progressively declined by the increase of NaCl concentration levels. The concentrations of both chlorophylls a and b were dramatically increased by increasing NaCl and the highest and lowest values have been obtained for the levels of 40 and 4 dS/m, respectively. There were no significant differences for the leaf area and water content with the salinity of 20 dS/m as compared to the control treatment. The concentrations of chlorophylls a and b were 0.73 and 0.41(mg/g FW) and 0.35 and 0.11 (mg/g FW) in the 40 and 4 dS/m salinity treatments, respectively. Leaf water content for 4 and 20 dS/m salinity levels has been calculated as 11.3 and 9.8 percent. But there was a significant reduction in the leaf water content with 30 and 40 dS/m salinity levels. Leaf water content with 30 and 40 dS/m salinity level was 6.3 and 5.2 %. Leaf area in 4, 20, 30 and 40 dS/m salinity levels has been computed as 172, 168.7, 81.7 and 65.2 cm2, respectively. Compared to the control treatments, there was a significant reduction in leaf area with 30 and 40 dS/m salinity levels. Our results suggest that in an EC between 4 to 20 dS/m, Vetiveria zizanioides could grow.