Impact of different salt levels on the seedling growth and root development of Bruguiera sexangula for the regeneration of mangroves

Abstract

At present mangrove forests have been degraded in North Sumatra, Indonesia. It is therefore the rehabilitation efforts are needed to betterment of mangrove forests. Salinity influences plant growth and development because salinity conditions that are not suitable leading to plant growth and development. This research aims to study the impact of difference salinity concentration on the growth and development of Bruguiera sexangula seedlings. The study was performed using five treatments levels of salinity, namely 0%, 0.5%, 1.5%, 2% and 3%, respectively with ten replications for five months in the greenhouse of Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Sumatera Utara. There were differences in the growth response of B. sexangula to variations in salinity concentrations. These results indicated that the best growth and development of B. sexangula seedlings at 0.5% salinity concentration of with six best parameters, namely superior height, diameter, number of leaves, number of lateral roots, main root diameter and lateral root diameter.