Effect of Salinity Stress on Growth and Nutrient Composition of Three Soybean (<i>Glycine max</i> L. Merrill) Cultivars

Soil salinity is a major limitation to legume production in many areas of the world. The salinity sensitivity of soybean was studied to determine the effect of salinity on seed germination, shoot and root dry weights, and leaf mineral contents. Three soybean cultivars, Lee, Coquitt, and Clark 63, were planted in soils of different salinity levels. The electrical conductivity (EC) of the soils used in this experiment was 0.5 dS m −1 . The soil salinity treatments were 0.5, 2.5 4.5, 6.5 and 8.5 dS m −1 . Saline drainage water from a drainage canal with an EC of 15 dS m −1 was used to treat the soil samples in order to obtain the desired salinity levels. Germination percentages were recorded 10 days after planting. Shoot and root dry weights of 45‐day‐old plants were measured. Nutrient concentrations for Na + , K + , Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ and Cl − were determined. Germination percentages were significantly reduced with increasing salinity levels. The cultivar Lee was less affected by salinity stress than Coquitt and Clark 63. At 8.5 dS m −1 a significant reduction in plant height was found in all three cultivars. However, Lee plants were taller than plants of the other two cultivars. Salinity stress induced a significant increase in leaf sodium (Na + ) and chloride (Cl − ) in all cultivars. However, the cultivar Lee maintained lower Na + and Cl + concentrations, a higher potassium (K + ) concentration and a higher K + /Na + ratio at higher salinity levels than Coquitt and Clark 63. Saline stress reduced the accumulation of K + , calcium (Ca 2+ ) and magnesium (Mg 2+ ) in the leaves of the cultivars studied. This study suggests that Lee is the most tolerant cultivar, and that there is a relationship between the salt tolerance of the cultivar and macronutrient accumulation in the leaves.