Determination of the alleviating effect of liquid vermicompost on germination and seedling development of Hungarian Vetch (Vicia pannonica Crantz.) under salt stress

Abstract

Aims: The alleviating aspects of liquid vermicompost (VCL) on the seed germination and juvenile seedling growth of Hungarian vetch, which is an important fodder plant in Turkey and in the world, under salt stress were evaluated.Methods and Results: Two experiments in laboratory and greenhouse conditions were established according to a randomized plot design with three replications. In the experiments, liquid vermicompost levels were applied as control (0%) - 1% - 2.5% - 5% and 10% and salt solutions were prepared with control (pure water), 30 mM, 60 mM and 90 mM NaCl doses. At the end of the laboratory experiment, germination rate and index of Hungarian vetch seeds, length, fresh and dry weights of plumule, and length, fresh and dry weights of radicle were examined. In the greenhouse experiment, the emergence ratio, seedling height, seedling fresh and dry weights, root length, root fresh and dry weights of Hungarian vetch were investigated.Conclusions: It was observed that the parameters measured in the germination and seedling period of Hungarian vetch were negatively affected by salt stress, but the negative effects of salt stress decreased due to the increase in the amount of liquid vermicompost applied.Significance and Impact of the Study: The present study can be an important reference in terms of revealing the stimulating attribute of VCL and inhibiting attribute of salinity on the germination and various parameters of Hungarian vetch plant. The alleviative and regulatory effect of VCL appeared mostly in its 5% and 10% dose applications during the germination and juvenile seedling of Hungarian vetch, moderately sensitive to salt stress.