Effect of sodicity and salinity on seedling growth of two early successional agroforestry tree species

摘要

The growth responses of Dalbergia sissoo Roxb. and Acacia nilotica (Linn.) Willd. ex. Del. seedlings were compared on different levels of soil sodicity and salinity. The growth and dry weight of one-year old seedlings decreased as the level of sodicity and salinity increased in both species. However, the suppression in growth caused by sodicity and salinity was relatively greater in D. sissoo than in A. nilotica. A. nilotica showed wider response breadth compared with D. sissoo on both the gradients.Further, the response breadths were comparatively higher under sodicity levels than under salinity levels. Root : shoot ratio and root weight ratio in both the species increased on increasing the levels of sodicity and salinity, whereas relative growthrate and net assimilation rate indicated a reverse trend.