GROWTH, YIELD, AND CHEMICAL-COMPOSITION OF RICE (ORYZA-SATIVA L.) UNDER SALINE WATER IRRIGATION

Experiments with rice plants grown in pots filled with coastal saline soil showed that early tillering and panicle initiation in rice are ve ry sensitive to saline water irrigation. The latter had a stronger eff ect when it began at the early growth stage and continued at later sta ges. Continuous irrigation with saline water, irrespective of the sali nity level, resulted in a decrease in growth, yield, and N, P, and K c ontents of grain and straw. Rice plants at later growth stages proved to be significantly more tolerant to saline water irrigation.