Comparative effect of various concentrations of sodium chloride on germination and growth of spinach (<i>Amaranthus caudatus</i>) in Dutse Metropolis, Jigawa State, Nigeria

Abstract

This research tested the effect of different concentrations of sodium chloride on germination and growth of Spinach (Amaranthus caudatus). The experiment was carried out in Federal University Dutse School Farm from 26^th August 2021 to 14^th October 2021.Four different salt concentrations were used in millimol i.e 0mM, 50mM, 100mM, 150mM, and 200mM. Completely randomized design (CRD) was used with three replications. There were 12 replications per treatment. Percentage germination rate and the growth parameters such as plant height, number of leaves, shoot fresh weight and shoot dry weight decreases with increase in salt concentrations. Germination was low at 200Mm and high at 0Mm. Amaranthus caudatus showed almost the same Phenomenon at different salt concentration for the growth parameters such as plant height, number of leaves, shoot fresh and dry weight. The significant findings (P< 0.05) of this study showed that A. caudatus could be cultivated in farmlands contaminated with sodium chloride either due to natural aridity or man-made soil salinization in this study it was discovered that germination of A. caudatus seed is adversely affected with increase in salt concentrations. Seedling growth was positively stimulated at moderate concentrations and adversely affected at higher concentrations (150 and 200Mm respectively).