EFFECT OF SALINE WATER ON GROWTH-PARAMETERS OF 5 CITRUS ROOT-STOCKS

The pot culture experiment was carried out at the Experimental Station of Agriculture Science College at Al-Oha region to study the effect o f NaCl + CaCl2 (1:1 by weight) on the growth parameters of 5 citrus ro ot-stock seedlings, viz., Volkamer lemon (Citrus volkameriana), Macrop hylla (Citrus macrophylla), Sour orange (Citrus aurantium), Rough lemo n (Citrus jamblurii) and Balady line (Citrus aurantifolia). The relati ve growth rate (RGR) of Volkamer lemon, Balady lime and Sour orange ro ot-stock reduced by 52.3, 39.7 and 17.2%, respectively, where as, RGR of Macrophylla and Rough lemon increased, when irrigated with 0.6% sal t solution by 10.5% and 3.8% respectively, as compared with control. T hese effects were not significant. Stem dry matter and diameter of fiv e root-stock seedlings did not respond to saline water treatments, exc ept a significant reduction in stem diameter of Volkamer lemon and Bal ady lime root-stock seedlings, when irrigated with 0.4% saline water. The leaf dry matter of Rough lemon, and Macrophylla seedlings signific antly increased, whereas, leaf dry matter of Volkamer lemon and Balady lime reduced significantly, when irrigated with 0.6% saline water. Ro ot dry matter of Rough lemon and Macrophylla root-stock seedlings incr eased slightly, and that of Balady lime, Volkamer lemon and Sour orang e, decreased with 0.6% saline water irrigation. The leaf area of Balad y lime and Rough lemon root-stock seedlings did not show any significa nt reduction. It was observed that Rough lemon was more resistant to h igh salinity in irrigation water.