EFFECT OF SALINITY ON WATER-STRESS, GROWTH, AND YIELD OF MAIZE AND SUNFLOWER

Maize and sunflower were grown in tanks filled with loam and clay, and were irrigated with water of three different levels of salinity. Pred awn leaf-water potential and stomatal conductance were used as paramet ers for water stress. The predawn leaf-water potential of maize was hi gher than that of sunflower, but the effect of salinity and soil textu re on the predawn leaf-water potential was the same for both crops. Th e stomatal conductance of sunflower was much higher and more severely affected by salinity and soil texture than the stomatal conductance of maize. Although salinity had a more serious effect on the development of leaf area and canopy dry matter of sunflower, its effect on evapot ranspiration and grain yield was the same for both crops. Soil texture had a stronger effect on the development of leaf area and canopy dry matter of sunflower, which also appeared in the evapotranspiration and grain yield, indicating that sunflower is more sensitive to drought t han maize.