The effects of sodium-izocation salinity (NaCl and Na2SO4) on germination parameters, morphometric traits, water status, and the content of photosynthetic pigments during the early stages of ontogenesis in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivated under water and soil culture conditions were studied comparatively. It was found that with increasing salt concentration, the germination percentage and germination energy of seeds, root and shoot length, tolerance index, moisture parameters, relative water content, as well as chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b contents decreased sharply. The increase in the amount of carotenoids was not marked at relatively low salt concentrations (25-50 mM), and the decrease in the amount of carotenoids was not pronounced with a subsequent increase in the concentration (75-100 mM). It was revealed that the increase in carotenoid content under prolonged salt stress is associated with its protective function. Thus, carotenoids protect cells against the formation of reactive oxygen species. It was also found that chloride salinity exerted a stronger inhibitory effect in soil culture, whereas sulfate salinity had a more pronounced inhibitory effect in water culture. Barley plants were found to be tolerant to low and moderate salinity conditions. However, at high salt concentrations, a sharp decline in physiological parameters was observed. The obtained results demonstrated that different adaptation mechanisms depend on the type and concentration of salts, cultivation conditions, and the duration of stress exposure.