Short Communication: The tolerance level of local sorghum genotypes from Sabu-Raijua and Belu Districts, Indonesia to saline soil

Benggu YI, Nguru ESO. 2018. The tolerance level of local sorghum genotypes from Sabu-Raijua and Belu Districts, Indonesia to saline soil. Trop Drylands 2: 1-4. A study aimed to determine the level of tolerance of local sorghum from Sabu-Raijua and Belu Districts to saline soil had been conducted in the experimental field and soil chemistry laboratory of Agriculture Faculty, Universitas Nusa Cendana, from June to October 2016. The study was designed in a factorial treatment design laid out in a completely randomized design with 15 treatments and three replications. The first factor was the variety of sorghum, consisting of three levels: local sorghum from Sabu-Raijua, local sorghum from Belu, Numbu variety. The second factor was the salinity levels of Vertisol, composed of five levels, i.e., 0, 6, 8, 10 and 12 mmos.cm-1. Variables observed were plant height, number of leaves, flowering date, and seed dry weight. Analysis of variance was conducted followed by Tukey test (5%). The result showed that there was an interaction effect between sorghum variety and salinity level of soil on all variables observed. In general, all varieties of sorghum grew normally with soil salinity level ranged from 0 to 8 mmos.cm-1. At salinity level of 8 to 12 mmos.cm-1, seedlings grew for a few weeks then gradually wilted and died. Local sorghum from Belu and Numbu variety were semi or moderate tolerant to salinity while local sorghum from Sabu-Raijua was sensitive.