EFFECT OF SODIUM-CHLORIDE ON GROWTH AND NITROGEN-METABOLISM OF SORGHUM

The dry matter yield of sorghum cultivar IS-4807 was more adversely affected by NaCl (50 and 100 meq/l) than that of Giza-10 in a nutrient solution study with KNO3 and Ca(NO3)2 as a source of N. Analysis of plants and nutrient solution indicated that NO3- uptake was reduced by NaCl in both Sorghum cultivars. Reduction in NO3- uptake was more pronounced in IS-4807 than in Giza-10. Nitrate reductase activity (NRA) was more reduced both in shoot and root in IS-4807 than in Giza-10. Nitrate concentration of plants was also reduced to the same extent as observed for NRA.