Browsing by Author "Ajiboye, A. A."

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    THE IMPACT OF EXOGENOUS NITROGEN AND SALINITY STRESS IN ACALYPHA WILKESIANA L.
    (Department Of Plant Science And Biotecnology, Nasarawa State University Keffi., 2016-04-09) Iwuala, E. N.; Ajiboye, A. A.; Kanu, R. N.; Epoffiong, A. E.
    This study investigates the physiological responses of Acalypha wilkesiana seedlings to short-term salinity stress and foliar supply of nitrogen. Seedlings were grouped into three group, each representing a treatment and replicated 6 times. Group 1 (W) which served as the control received 350 ml of water every 3 days throughout the experiment period; Group 2 (N) received 350 ml of water every 3 days and a weekly foliar spray of 100 ml 0.1 M ammonium nitrate solution throughout the study period; Group 3 (S) received 350 ml of 0.1 M NaCl solution every 3 days throughout. Growth and physiological parameters were evaluated after the treatments. The results showed that salinity caused a decrease in plant biomass, relative growth rate, relative water content (RWC) and a significant increase in lipid peroxidation, and activities of catalase enzyme. It was observed that foliar application of nitrogen significantly increased the growth parameters, and nitrate reductase activity. The data presented in this work underscored the fact that foliar nitrogen supply induces a positive effect on the growth of Acalypha wilkesiana as compared to salinity stress. The relevance of the findings were discussed in relation to impacts of nitrogen supply on the growth of A. wikesiana and a simulated salt polluting environments.