The researchers studied how calcium and salicylic acid affect the growth of maize seedlings under salt stress. They found that salt stress reduced maize growth and chlorophyll content, while increasing soluble sugar, proline, and MDA levels. Adding calcium nitrate and salicylic acid increased chlorophyll, soluble sugar, and proline levels, and decreased MDA levels, reducing salt damage. The best results were seen with 20 mmol/L of calcium nitrate and 1.5 mmol/L of salicylic acid.