Sodium chloride salinity (60 mM) caused reduction of nitrates in the roots and leaves ofZeamays relative to control by 18% and 62% respectively. Foliar application of acetyl salicylic acid (5 mM) partially mitigated the adverse effects of salinity on the content of the ion. Nitrate reductase activity was also negatively affected by the salinity treatment and decreased by 81% and 29% in the roots and leaves respectively. Supplements of aspirin partially alleviated the activity and soluble sugars behaved similarly.