Influence of Salinity with Different Cl-:SO42- Ratios on Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Growth

A major threat for sustainable agriculture is the continuous increase in salt-affected area. Salt stress causes the land degradation, ecological imbalance, Environmental pollution and reduce the crop production. It changes different physical and chemical processes taking place in plant body such as seed germination and uptake of different nutrients and water. Wheat is the main cereal crop and primary diet for one third population of the humans. It can tolerate the salinity effect to some extent but at higher level of salinity, its production reduces significantly. Salt-affected soils have relatively more number of salts which are easily solubilize in water and exchangeable sodium as compared to the normal soil. These salts are ionized and produce different types of cations (Mg2+, Ca2+ and Na+) and anions (Cl-, CO32-, SO42-, and HCO3-). Sulphate salinity is also toxic for plant growth as chloride salinity. The objective of this research is to assess the effect of salinity with various Cl-:SO42- ratios on wheat growth. A pot trial was conducted on wheat by creating salinity with different levels of chloride and sulphate (4:1, 3:1, 2:1, 1:1, 1:2, 1:3 and 1:4). Experimental design was complete randomized design (CRD). Different physiochemical parameters of soil before and after harvesting of the crop and also growth parameters were determined. Data was analysed using statistical software. On the basis of these results, it was determined that both types of salinity reduced the wheat growth significantly, but chloride type salinity has more injurious effect than sulphate salinity. It was concluded that chloride ion has more toxic effect than sulphate ion for wheat growth and development.