Emergence and phytomass accumulation of millet seedling under salt stress in semiarid conditions

Abstract

Millet is a crop of great agricultural importance, requires low investment, and it is able to develop rapidly in different environmental conditions, becoming an alternative for small producers in the Brazilian semi-arid region, mainly for forage production in times of water resources scarcity. The analysis of salinity effects on irrigation water in agricultural cultivation areas in semi-arid regions is extremely important for the elaboration, implementation, and execution of adequate management proposals. The effect of different salt concentrations on irrigation water during the emergence of millet seedlings (Pennisetum glaucum L. BR.) was studied. The experiment was set up in a greenhouse at the Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Academic Unit of Serra Talhada, State of Pernambuco, Northeast region, Brazil, in the period from May 30 to June 11, 2018, using a completely randomized design with four treatments and five replicates, with 24 seeds in each plot. Treatments consisted of four saline concentrations (0 (destilled water), 4, 8, and 12 dS m^-1) achieved by adding sodium chloride (NaCl) in the water. Variables assessed were seedling emergence percentage, emergence speed index, shoot length, root length, root dry mass, and dry shoot mass. Increasing salt concentrations in the irrigation water negatively affects the emergence of millet seedlings; thus, the maximum saline concentration recommended is 8 dS m^-1.