Asian Journal of Plant Sciences1682-39741812-5697Asian Network for Scientific Information10.3923/ajps.2010.344.350Rhizobium Inoculation on Plant Growth and Productivity of Two Cultivars of Berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum L.) in Saline Soil]]>AgarwalS. AhmadZ. 6201096The present study was undertaken on the interactive effect of Rhizobium seed culture treatment and saline irrigation on the plant growth and productivity (fodder/biological yield) in two cultivars (WARDAN and BB 2) of berseem. The experiment was conducted following completely randomized block design method considering three replicates and data were subjected to statistical analysis of variance using three factorial randomized design method. Two sets of plots were maintained in which one set contained non-inoculated while another set contained inoculated seeds with Rhizobium culture, which were irrigated with saline waters of different electrical conductivities (0, 3, 6, 7.2, 10, 12 and 14 dS m-1). The observations were recorded at two durations i.e., 90 and 120 DAS. The plant growth has been enhanced at lower levels of salinity (3 to 7.2 dS m-1) and invariably inhibited at 10 dS m-1 and beyond. Inoculation with Rhizobium culture had expressed synergistic effects on growth and productivity at both durations particularly at lower EC levels and also minimized the deleterious effect of salinity at 10 to 14 dS m-1 to some extent. The yield characteristics (biological and fodder yield) had been differentially affected in berseem. Cv. WARDAN had registered maximum yield at the final harvest in Rhizobium inoculated sets at 3, 6 and 7.2 dS m-1. Similar findings were recorded for total green and dry weight fodder yield/plot (kg m-2). Our findings proves that cv. WARDAN might be tried on saline soils to obtain some biomass.]]>Agarwal, S., B. Singh and K.P. Alka,2008Brassica species at germination and early seedling growth.]]>2181103Ashraf, M.Y., K. Akhtar, F. Hussain and J. Iqbal,20063815891597Ayers, A.D., D.G. Aldrich and J.J. Coony,195136174178Bernstein, L. and H.E. Hayward,195892546Bernstein, N., A. Lauchli and W.X. Silk,1993Sorghum bicolour L.) leaf development of various Na/Ca salinities. 1. Elongation growth.]]>10311071114Bernstein, N., W.K. Silk and A. Lauchli,1993191433439Bernstein, N. and U. Kafkafi,20022002Bingham, F.T., L.B. Fenn and J.J. Oertli,196832249252Bruning, J.L. and B.K. Kintz,1977Camara, T.R., L. Willadino, A.M. Torne and M.A. Santos,200012146155Cheeseman, J.M.,198887547550Demiral, M.A.,2005Olea europaea L.) cultivars to salinity.]]>29267274Dravid, M.S. and N.N. Goswami,1987Cicer arietinium L.).]]>166972Eaton, F.M.,194264357399Elsheikh, E.A.E. and M. Wood,1990Cicer arientinum L.).]]>4112631269Flowers, T.J.,200455307319Francois, L.E.,199486233237Grieve, C.M., M.C. Shannon and D.A. Dierig,1999Lesquerella fendleri.]]>1999pp: 239-243pp: 239-243Hussain, N., F. Mujeeb, M. Tahir, G.D. Khan, N.M. Hassan and A. Bari,200211214Hu, Y. and U. Schmidhalter,200128165170Jaiswal, R.C., K. Singh and M.L. Pandita,1975Pisum Sativum L.) in relation to germination, vegetative growth and yield.]]>45159Jiang, L., L. Duan, X. Tian, B. Wang, H. Zhang and Z. Li,2004Bacillus thuringiesis cotton cultivars.]]>2004Katerji, N., J.W. Hoorn, A. Hamdy, M. Mastrorilli, M. Nachit and T. Oweis, 200572195207Khan, M.A., M.U. Shirazi, M. Ali, S. Mumtaz, A. Sherin and M.Y. Ashraf,20063816331639Lazof, D.B. and N. Bernstein,199829113189Malik, Y.S., M.L. Pandita and R.C. Jaiswal,19776181185Muhammad, Z. and F. Hussain,201042303316Munns, R.,200225239250Murillo-Amador, B. and E. Troyo-Dieguez,2000Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp].]]>40433438Neves-Piestun, B.G. and N. Bernstein,200112514191428Rawson, H.M., M.J. Long and R. Munns,1988+ and Cl- concentrations do not determine gas exchange of leaf blades in barley.]]>15519527Rengasamy, P.,20065710171023Rout, N.P. and B.P. Show, 2001160415423Singh, K. and J.L. Mangal,1974Abelmoschus esculentus L.).]]>3210217Singh, A.K., R.A. Singh and S.G. Sharma,2001241115Shirinzadeh, A., R. Zarghami, A.V. Azghandi, M.R. Shiri and M. Mirabdulbaghi,201096773Shonubi, O.O.,2010Paspalum species in salinity tolerance.]]>99498Strogonov, B.P.,19621962pp: 163-204pp: 163-204Surange, S., A.G. Wollum, N. Kumar and S. Nautiyal, 1997Rhizobium from root nodules of leguminous trees growing in alkaline soils. ]]>43891894US Salinity Laboratory,1954Pages: 160 Pages: 160 Viegas, R.A., A.R.B. de Melo and J.A.G. da Silveira,1999112128Winter, E. and A. Lauchli,1982Trifolium alexandrinum L.I. Comparison of the salt response of T. alexandrinum and T. pretense.]]>9221226Yanni, Y.G. and F.K.A. El-Fattah,199927319331Yeo, A.R., K.S. Lee, P. Izard, P.J. Boursier and T.J. Flowers,1991Oryza sativa L.).]]>42881889Zahran, H.H.,1999Rhizobium-legume symbiosis and nitrogen fixation under severe conditions and in an arid climate.]]>63968989