Abstract:
The current study was conducted for determination the effect of salinity and oil pollution plants growth under Iraqi environmental conditions. Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) chose as plant indicator for Grassy family and green gram(Vigna radiate L) as plant indicator for Leguminous family. Germination stage and seedlings growth considered as indicators for yield production. 5 different salinity levels (0, 100, 200, 300 and 400 meq/l of NaCl) were used. 10 seeds of each plant were placed on filter paper and placed inside Petri dish and 10 ml of saline solution was added, each treatment replicated 3 times and incubated at 25±2 °C. Germination rates, radical's length and gross weight were recorded daily during the experiments.
Salinity was significantly (p<0.01) reduced the germination rate up to 80% for barley and up to 87% for green gram. Seedlings grow under saline condition characterized by low ability to absorb water as a result of increasing osmotic pressure and reducing radical’s length.
Effect of crude oil pollution studied only on green gram by using three levels (0 ml (Oil, 0), 1ml (Oil,1) and 2ml (Oil, 2)) were added over the filter paper with same five levels of salinity. Crude oil pollution led to decrease the germination rate by (7.8%) and (63.4)% for (Oil,1) and (Oil, 2) respectively . On other hand, low level of crude oil pollution (Oil, 1) was able to increase the mean of gross weight by ( 40.8%) and high level (Oil, 2) by (2.6%) . While the radical length increased by (25.6%) at (Oil, 1) and decreased by (55.2%) by using (Oil, 2).In spite of the low levels of crude pollution that ameliorate the stress of salinity on the germination and seedling growth at highest level of salinity (400 meq/l), we need more care about the affects of some carcinogenic hydrocarbon compounds which might be absorbed by roots and incorporated inside the plant materials. Such plants materials could cause cancers dieses as for consumers.