Evaluation of indigenous Omani alfalfa landraces for morphology and forage yield under different levels of salt stress.

ABSTRACT: Alfalfa is the major fodder crop of Sultanate Oman, but salinity is a major problem in its cultivation. Therefore, thirty-four alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) landraces of Oman were evaluated for morphology and forage yield response to different salinity levels viz. 1 (control), 3, 6, 9, and 12 dS m^-1 under greenhouse conditions. The experiment was conducted under a completely randomized design. Different alfalfa landraces responded differently to the five salinity levels for plant height, number of branches, number of leaves, leaflet width, leaflet length, forage fresh weight, and forage dry matter yield. Salt stress caused a reduction in growth and dry matter yield of alfalfa landraces with exception of some, which responded positively to the salinity levels of 3 and 6 dS

SUBMITTER: Al-Farsi SM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7468036 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature