International Journal of Agriculture, Environment & Biotechnology

Citation: IJAEB: 7(4): 833-838 December 2014

DOI Number: 10.5958/2230-732X.2014.01394.1

©2014 New Delhi Publishers. All rights reserved

AGRONOMY

Germination profile of babul ( Acacia Nilotica ) under

different salinity conditions

Kuldeep Singh Rajput 1 , N.K. Kushwaha 2 and Rajesh Gupta 2*

1 Watershed Cell Cum Data Centre, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, India

2 Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India

*Corresponding author: rajeshgupta171@rediffmail.com

Paper No. 275

Received: 3 June, 2014

Accepted: 8 October, 2014

Published: 15 December, 2014

Abstract

Babul ( Acacia nilotica ) is an important multipurpose, leguminous tree species, grown widely under

agroforestry systems in India, Middle-East Asia, and Africa. It is an important source of fodder, fuel,

timber, gum and medicines. The salinity tolerance ability of Babul in 15 provenances (Sagar, Jabalpur,

Raipur, Nagpur, Akola, Khandwa, Ujjain, Shajapur, Bhopal, Guna, Jhansi, Bharatpur, Jaipur, Rewari,

Karnal) were investigated using petri dishes and poly bags. The solutions of different compound like

sodium chloride, sodium bi-cardonate, calcium chioride, magnesium sulphate and calcium sulphate

was prepared with five level of salinity concentration, which have electrical conductivity of 3, 6, 9, 12

and 15 dSm -1 , respectively. Among the five doses of salinity, the highest does EC 15 dSm -1 was found

most deleterious to the seed germination of Babul in all the provenances. Out of 15, ten provenances

had more than 50% reduction in germination at EC 9.0 dSm -1 . Akola, Khandawa, Guna and Jaipur

provenances were least affected by the increased level of salinity under both the test i.e., petri dishes and

poly bags and hence these provenances may be called as most tolerant to salinity.

Highlights

Out of 15 provenances Akola, Khandawa, Guna and Jaipur provenances were least affected by the

increased level of salinity under petri dishes and poly bags.

Keywords: Acacia nilotica, babul, provenance, salinity, tolerance

Acacia nilotica ssp. indica is considered to be the most

selected for present study. Further information on

common variety and most valued species for timber

the critical limits of salt-tolerance of this species is

and fuel. It is one the most important tree species

scanty. Keeping these facts in view, the present

for agroforestry in Central India. It is mostly found

investigations have been carried out to study the

on field bund and very important tree for social

salinity tolerance ability in geographically diverse

forestry, afforestation and reclamation of degraded

population of Acacia nilotica ssp. indica.

lands in India (Simmons 1981). Keeping in view the

importance of Acacia nilotica for agroforestry under

Materials and Methods

rainfed and saline soil conditions, and the work on

The Present study was undertaken during 2008 at

the visual symptoms in salinity conditions (Craig et

Tree Improvement Laboratory, National Research

al., 1990; Bimlendra Kumari 2000), this species was

Centre for Agroforestry, Jhansi (U.P). Repined seeds