This study falls within a research project carried out by MAI-Bari, INRA (France)and the ICARDA. It aims at analyzing the effects of irrigation water salinity and soil types on the seedling stage and vegetative growth of six faba bean varieties (Vicia faba). The experiment was performed in the greenhouses of the MAI-Bari. The surveyed crops were cultivated in pots in two soil types and were subjected to eight water salinity levels (fresh water, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 15, and 20 dS/m). The work is divided into two parts. The first part covers the germination process where the objective is to identify the proper salt level of irrigation water that leads to a high germination percentage and healthy seedling establishment.
[...]
The second part is aimed at elucidating the possible impact of the salt concentration levels on the growing parameters during the seedling stage till full development of the vegetative growth. Several plant parameters were analyzed (plant height, number of green leaves, number of lateral shoots, leaf area, leaf senescence, and dry matter of leaves, stems, shoots and roots). The results obtained highlight the special performance of the two varieties V1 and V6 that seem to be better adapted to produce at medium salinity level at the investigated growth stages.
