Effect of salinity stress on the morphological parameters of Hura crepitans L. ameliorated with Calapogonium mucunoides DESV. and Biochar

Abstract

Salinity is one of the most serious limiting factors for plant growth and production. This study assessed the effect of salinity stress on the morphological parameters of Hura crepitans ameliorated with Calapogonuim mucunoides Desv. and Biochar. Standard methodology was adopted to examine physicochemical properties of the soil and morphological parameters of the plant. The physicochemical
properties of the experimental soils was significant at p=0.01. Morphological parameters of shoot length of H. crepitans at 1% non-amended saline soil for week 6 and 7 recorded 4.03±4.03cm which indicated a significant reduction (p=0.01) when compared to control 15.70±3.35 and 19.50±4.43cm respectively. The amelioration of the saline soil at 0.001% KI with biochar and C. mucunoides (21.80±0.05 and 22.43±3.52cm) of H. crepitans shoot length was significant when compared to the control 21.00±4.00cm. The higher the concentration of salinity, the lower the petiole length of H. crepitans for amended treatments. The photosynthetic pigment 56.70±2.47 of H .crepitans at 0.001% was significant (p=0.05) when compared to the control 51.36±2.99.This results showed that salinity causes a detrimental effect on some plant growth parameters. However, amelioration of saline soil with C. mucunoides and biochar recorded a satisfactory remediation effect on the growth of H. crepitans. Based on this research, amelioration treatment such as C. mucunoides and biochar can be use to improve crops planted in saline soil.