Abstract
Abstract The effects of five concentrations of Sodium chloride Nacl (0mM, 50mM,100mM,150mM, and 200mM) on seed germination of four Libyan cultivars of Barley; Local Barley, California Marriott, Acasd 176 and Acsad 1164 were tested. Regardless of salt concentration, the variation in seed germination among the cultivars was clear. The tested barley cultivars showed wide range of adaptation to salinity in terms of seed germination. Only at the high salt concentration (200 mM), the germination rate was significantly reduced for some cultivars. In general, the other salt concentrations did not inhibit seed germination significantly. However, the long term effect of using saline water on the vegetative and reproductive growth of barley and on the soil salinization need more research.