EFFECT OF ROOTSTOCK AND SEAWEEED EXTRACT (ALGEX) APPLICATION ON LEMON (Citrus lemon L.) SEEDLINGS TOLERANCE TO SOIL SALINITY: 1. VEGETATIVE TRAITS

Abstract

This experience was carried out in a private nursery in the city of Baquba / Diyala ,during the growing season 2015 on 3 years old Lemon seedling, to study the effect of rootstock and seaweed extract application on lemon seedlings tolerance to soil salinity . Lemon seedlings budded on two citrus rootstocks(Sour orange , and Swingle Citrumello) grown in three levels of soil salinity (1.14,4.62and 5.30 dSm-1 ) ,soil application with two concentrations of seaweed extract Algex (0 and 0.15g per plant) . Results revealed that the growth traits effected negatively with soil salinity increase, whereas seaweed application caused a significant increase in most growth parameters studied compared with untreated plants. Seedlings budded on swingle citrumello have the superiority over that budded on sour orange in most studied growth parameters .