EFFECT OF WATER AND SOIL QUALITY ON GRAINS BARLEY GERMINATION

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L. Giza 58) was screened for salt tolerance during seed germination in greenhouse to study the effect of salt affected soils differ in texture, water salinity of 0.5 (control), 3.2, 5.8, 8.7 and 11.7 dSm-1 and soil amendments such as organic matter (OM) and gypsum at 10; 20 m3/fed and 1.5; 2.5 ton/fed, respectively. From obtained results it could conclude that: Applying OM at 1st application rate has improved soil EC to be decrease to extent is required to improve both germination % and germination rate of barley grains, while gypsum significantly increased soil EC under all water salinity levels. Seed germination significantly decreased by increasing water salinity level up to 3.2 dSm-1. Germination was significantly diminished at the highest level of salt (11.7 dSm-1) with significant variation among water salinity level under control soils. Also data indicated that the increasing water salinity significantly reduced percentage and rate of barley germination under gypsum at both rates used. Significantly decrease in germination % with increasing water salinity with a considerable variation among amendments used from side and within itself