Improving Salinity Tolerance Stress of Alfalfa Cultivar Grown Under Different Seawater Levels Using Exogenous Application of Ash

Abstract

Salinity is a major non-living stressor that impacts agricultural output globally, especially in dry and semi-dry areas. This research analyzes how various salinity levels in irrigation water affect the growth and physiological reactions of alfalfa cultivar and examines the potential of palm leaf ash to alleviate these effects. Research was carried out in a controlled greenhouse setting, testing different levels of salinity (0, 6000, and 10000 ppm) both with and without ash foliar treatment. Various growth factors such as shoot and root length, dry matter content, relative water content, soluble sugar, protein, proline, and chlorophyll levels were evaluated. The findings show that salt levels decrease the growth of alfalfa, but applying ash helps counteract this by increasing nutrient availability, enhancing water retention, and stabilizing physiological functions. The research indicates that using ash may be an affordable way to enhance the ability of crops to withstand high levels of salt in their environment.