Resumo. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of the irrigation water salinity on the initial growth of Tectona grandis plants. The work was carried out in a greenhouse with 100% solar radiation interception at Goiás State University, Ipameri Campus, Brazil. The Tectona grandis seeds were sown in eight-liter pots containing a mixture of soil, sand and manure at ratio 3:1:0.5, respectively. At 100 days after germination, the plants were irrigated daily with water of different electrical conductivity (0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 dS m -1 ) for 30 days and then subjected to analysis Tectona grandis to stay alive and reduced water loss by transpiration through efficient stomatal control. Tectona grandis plants in the early stages of development are highly sensitive to salinity stress, significantly slowing down vegetative growth.