EFFECTS OF WEED SEED OF SWEET CLOVER (MELILOTUS INDICA L.) AND NACL ON GERMINATION AND SEEDLING GROWTH OF RICE (ORYZA SATIVA L.)

Abstract

Weed seeds of sweet clover (Melilotus indica L.) were evaluated alone or in combination with sodium chloride (NaCl) for their effects on germination and seedling growth of rice. The seed germination of rice was affected significantly when weed seeds were incorporated with 0.4% NaCl solution. It was observed that weed seeds alone and with 0.2% NaCl had significant effect on shoot length. Similarly, a 0.4% NaCl alone or in combination with weed seeds reduced the shoot length. The root length was also reduced by application of weed seeds alone and in combination with NaCl. It was also observed that root length was affected more than the shoot.