In a greenhouse of the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari, an experiment was conducted and consisted on the study of the response of 2 varieties of maize under 2 soil types (sandy-loam and sandy-clay), 8 salinity levels (FW, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 15 dS/m) and 3 treatments during the seedling establishment (A

control treatment, B = giving a first irrigation with freshwater and C = soaking seeds). Results showed no difference between the two varieties except stem dry matter and root depth; the increase of salinity in irrigation water affected negatively all the parameters, except the germination percentage; all this was more pronounced under the sandy-loam soil. Soaking seeds did not improve the germination rate; it accelerated the seedling emergence and, above the water salinity level corresponding to 10 dS/m, it reduced the germination percentage. Treatment B improved the germination percentage and the seedling tolerance to salinity.