Effect of altered salinities on the growth and root performance in Ceriops tagal seedlings

Abstract

Mangrove forests degradation caused by anthropogenic activities leads to a decrease in the composition of mangrove forests. Mangrove forest rehabilitation activities, therefore, are needed to improve mangrove forest ecosystems. Research on the growth and development of true mangrove seedling roots of Ceriops tagal on various salinity was examined in a greenhouse, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Sumatra Utara. This study used a non-factorial Complete Randomized Design with 5 treatments salinity (0%, 0.5%, 1%, 2%, and 3% concentrations) and repeated with ten replications. Results showed that 0.5% salinity concentration dominated the observed parameters, such as seedling growth height, seedling diameter, number of leaf count, leaf area, leaf thickness, root diameter, canopy water content 0.5%, and root and shoot ratio. By contrast, the highest shoot water content was at 0% salinity and root length at 2.0% salt concentration. This study indicated that the best growth of C. tagal seedlings was at 0.5% salinity concentration because more than 80% of parameter measurements were at 0.5% salinity concentration.