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International Conference on

Recent Trends in Environmental Sustainability

ESCON22/SAgri/30
Effect of potassium and soil salinity on seed development in maize (Zea mays L.)

1*
1
Khadija Rasool , Dr. Hafiz Faiq Saddique Gul Bakhat
1 Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari- Campus,
61100 Pakistan

Correspondence: faiqsiddique@cuivehari.edu.pk
Abstract

Soil Salinity is the worldwide agricultural issue that impact 6% of land. Salinity hinders plant
growth, development and yield by inducing osmotic impacts and nutritional disorders in plants.
The decrease in plant growth and development on salt affected soils is principally due to cell
division and cell enlargements. The remediation of salt-affected soils has become basic to feed
the expanding populace of the globe. Maize (Zea mays L.) is the main cereal crop, cultivated
under a wide range of soil and climatic conditions. Salinity-induced perturbance in the uptake
and transport of mineral nutrients e.g., calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), potassium (K), in leaf,
stem, and roots of maize changes physiological processes that may also affect on the production
and transport of photosynthates to developing grains. To determine the effect of salinity on the
seed development, a pot experiment was done comprising of the treatments; T1: Control; T2:
75 mM NaCl; T3; 2.5 mM K; and T4: 75 mM NaCl + 2.5 mM K. Plant were grown till maturity
and the cobs were harvested 15 days after silking to determine the moisture contents and dry
mass accumulation in the developing grains. Moreover, the plant shoots were also harvested
for Na, K, Ca determinations. The results reveled those plants exposed to salinity stress had
higher Na accumulation accompanied with reduction in expansion growth (18.89%) and plant
biomass accumulation (35.00 %). The results also revealed that plants under stress with lower
growth had significantly lower kernel growth which was compensated with additional
potassium supply. The higher soluble salts in soil perturbed the ionic balances and changed the
concentration of K and Ca concentrations in the shoots.
Keywords: Maize; remediation; Potassium; salinity

Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari Campus

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