Response of Zea Mays and Gossypium Hirsutum to Salt Stress and Potassium Supplement

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of saline nutrient solution containing 50, 100 and 150 mM NaCl on growth, nitrate reductase activity (NRA), nitrate content (NO- 3), proteins, total soluble sugars (T.S.S), chlorophyll content, stomatal conductance, water potential and turgor pressure in young seedlings of maize and cotton. In second setoff treatments the previous concentrations of NaCl were supplemented with equal concentrations of potassium sulphate (K2SO4). Salinity reduced all the parameters under study with various decrements except proteins which are enhanced over control values. Potassium supplements tended to mitigate the negative effects of salinity on NRA, NO- 3 content, stomatal conductance and water potential, but failed to ameliorate the negative effects of salinity on chlorophyll content and turgor pressure.