Journal of Biology and Nature

Salinity stress is one of the major abiotic factors limiting seed germination and crop establishment in agricultural systems. The present study evaluated the effects of different salts on the germination behaviour of moong bean (Vigna radiata L.) under laboratory conditions. Healthy and surface-sterilized seeds were subjected to sodium chloride (NaCl), magnesium sulphate (MgSO₄), and potassium sulphate (K₂SO₄) at concentrations of 0%, 0.5%, 1% and 2%. Germination percentage (GP) and mean germination time (MGT) were recorded over a seven-day period. The results revealed that increasing salinity significantly reduced germination percentage and delayed seed germination in all treatments. Among the salts tested, NaCl showed the strongest inhibitory effect, causing a drastic decline in GP and the longest MGT, indicating severe osmotic and ionic stress. MgSO₄ exhibited moderate inhibition, whereas K₂SO₄ maintained comparatively higher germination percentages and shorter germination times even at higher concentrations. The order of salt toxicity was observed as NaCl > MgSO₄ > K₂SO₄. The comparatively better performance under K₂SO₄ treatment suggests a beneficial role of potassium in maintaining osmotic balance and ion homeostasis during germination. The findings highlight the importance of ionic composition in determining salinity tolerance and provide useful insights for developing salinity management strategies and improving crop establishment in saline soils.