Effect of Salinity on the Chlorophyll Content, Yield and Yield Components of QPM CV. Nutricta

A pot culture experiment was conducted with five levels of salinity (EC 0, 2.0, 4.0, 6.0 and 8.0 dS mG 1 ) obtained by dissolving NaCI in distilled water to study the effect of salinity on chlorophyll content, yield and yield components of Quality Protein Maize (QPM) CV. Nutricta. Ear length, ear diameter, number of seeds per ear and 100 seed weight were also reduced at high salinity levels. Increasing salinity decreased the content of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll and had little or no effect on chlorophyll a/b. A gradual and significant decrease in nitrogen and potassium contents was recorded in maize shoot and grain with an increasing salinity. Accumulation of N + and K + in grains were smaller than in shoot or straw. Due to its high yield potential I normal soil and high yield reduction in salinity it is regarded as a highly saline sensitive crop.