EFFICACY OF SUPPLEMENTAL CALCIUM ON THE GROWTH OF THREE RICE GENOTYPES DIFFERING IN SALT TOLERANCE

The effect of supplemental calcium (Ca) on the growth of three rice genotypes PVSB9, NS15, and Pokkali were assessed. Different morphological characters were studied among which the percent relative-plant height, total tillers, root dry weight (RDW), shoot dry weight (SDW), and total dry matter (TDM) were higher in Pokkali and PVSB9, but lower in NS15 under different salinity and supplemental Ca levels. These morphological characteristics significantly decreased with increasing salinity levels grown at different Ca levels, but significantly increased with increasing supplemental Ca levels. The interaction effect of genotypes and salinity levels, and genotypes and Ca levels were significant, where a negative relationship with increasing salinity levels and a positive relationship with increasing supplemental Ca levels were found. The interaction effect of salinity and Ca levels on all morphological parameters was significant, where these characteristics increased due to increasing the supplemental Ca levels at all the levels of salinity.