Salt tolerance of the onion seed crop

Abstract

SummaryThe salt tolerance of onion seed production was studied in pots artificially salinized with NaCl, Na2SO4, MgCl2 and MgSO4. Percent sprouting of onion bulbs and vegetative growth declined only when soil salinity values exceeded 4.0 dS m−1 and 6.0 dS m−1, respectively. Onion seed yield decreased at a rate of 6% per unit (dS m−1) increase in soil salinity (ECe). Seed yield was reduced to 50% of an unsalinized control at a salinity of 8.10 dS m−1. Thousand-seed weight remained unaffected by saline conditions. Salinity had no adverse effect on the germination of seeds.