Effect of Salinity Levels on the Morpho-Physiological Characteristics and Yield Attributes of Sweetpotato Genotypes

A pot experiment was conducted at Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA), Mymensingh, during the period from October 2011 to March 2012 to investigate the effect of salinity on the morpho-physiological characteristics and yield attributes of sweetpotato genotypes. Three exotic genotypes, JB, J7, J8 (Japanese) and one local genotype Tripti were used in the study. There were five salinity levels viz. control (0.64 dSm), 3, 6, 9 and 12 dSm applied by adding the measured quantity of NaCl solution to the soil. Among the genotypes, Tripti was the best genotype which was tolerant to salinity and produced better yield, whereas the yield of storage root/plant decreased significantly in the genotypes JB, J7 and J8 at 9 dSm levels of salinity. The genotype Tripti showed better potentiality in growth, yield and morpho-physiological attributes followed by JB, J7, and J8 at saline condition up to 6 dSm level of salinity.