DefinePK

Abstract

Background and Objective The condition of lack of water causes damage to membranes, increases membrane permeability and accumulates free radicals in plants. Disruption of Ca stability in plants causes structural attenuation of plant tissue due to drought stress experienced by plants. Purposes of this study were effectiveness of calcium in modifying physiological characters and growth of oil palm seedling exposed to drought and knowing the optimum calcium dose to tolerate plants against drought stress. Materials and Methods Experiment was arranged in a split-plot design factorial with three blocks as a replications. The first factor was using 4 different dosage calcium level, 0, 0.04, 0.08 and 0.12 g. The second factor were treatment of drought stress with soil moisture content 52.94 field capacity, 34.18 moderate drought and 26.32 heavy drought. Results The result showed that the application of Ca doses ranging from 0.04-0.12 g per seed has a positive influence on the physiological activity of oil palm seedlings in the condition of plants by moderate and heavy drought stress. Application of dosages of Ca 0.04-0.12 g per seed could be increase the growth of oil palm seedlings. Conclusion It could be recomended that optimal dose of Ca 0.04-0.12 g per seed were required in oil palm seedlings for growth and as resistance to drought stress. The addition of Ca up to 0.12 g per seedling was positively responded to by oil palm seeds in the form of increasing the level of resistance of the seeds to drought stress.