The Growth Response Variability of Some Legume Species on Salinity

Abstract

Abundant amount of saline soils provides possibility to increase farming acreage in Indonesia. Legume species are good sources of protein for Indonesian daily food. Among legumes species, some species could show more tolerant to salinity and could be potentially cultivated on saline soils. Our present research work was undertaken to evaluate the growth response of legume species to salinity. Alfisol and saline soils, as main factors, used in the study were combined factorially with six legume species (groundnut, soybean, pigeon pea, velvet bean, hyacinth bean and sword bean) as sub-factor. Each factorial treatment was arranged in randomized block designed and was replicated three times. The standard deviation (SD) analysis was used to analyse the effect of salinity to the growth of legume species. Plant height at 15 days after sowing (DAS) and at 50 DAS, shoot diameter at 50 DAS, root dry weight at 50 DAS, shoot dry weight at 50 DAS and leaf dry weight at 50 DAS varied among legume species on Alfisol and saline soils. In general, the plant growth of legume crops, measured as plant height, plant diameter, root dry weight, shoot dry weight and leaf dry weight, was significantly retarded by salinity at different degree. The growth reduction on saline soil was related to higher Na concentration in roots and leaves. The highest and the lowest degrees of retardation by salinity on root, shoot and leaf dry weights were observed on pigeon pea and groundnut, respectively. Soybean, velvet bean, and hyacinth bean showed the degree of growth retardation by salinity between pigeon pea and groundnut. Response to salinity of sword bean was comparable to groundnut. Thus, groundnut and sword bean could be cultivated on saline soil.