Some potential plants of coastal and inland salt affected soils and their relation to soil properties

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to survey and collect range plants species capable of growing in severe salt affected lands and under saline irrigation to save fresh groundwater for other beneficial purposes. To achieve this objective, nine plants were collected in the coastal (Arabian Gulf, Red Sea) and inland (Al-Qaseem region) salt affected soils of Saudi Arabia to obtain information for the rehabilitation of degraded lands as sustainable rangelands for range animals. Soil samples were collected from 0-30 and 30-60 cm depth and analyzed for physical and chemical composition. Plant samples were also analyzed for N, P, Na, K, Ca and Mg. Plant species found in abundance were identified as Aeluroapus lagopoides, Avicennia marina, Juncus rigidus, Nitraria retusa, Panicum turgidum, Salsola sp., Suaeda vermiculata, Salicornia europaea and Tamarix amplexicaulis. Statistically evaluation of results using ANOVA and regression techniques showed negative correlation between soil salinity and N, P and K (r = -0.09 to -0.67) and positive (r = 0.11-0.73) for Ca, Mg and Na. Similarly, the correlation was negative between soil mineral contents (-0.18 to -0.31) and the plant composition for K, Ca, Mg and positive for Na ion (r = 0.54) only. Nutrient value of some plants of forage importance were significantly affected by high soil salinity. Plants such as Juncus rigidus, Nitraria retusa, Panicum turgidum, Suaeda vermiculata, Salicornia europaea and Tamarix amplexicaulis seems to have an excellent potential for the rehabilitation of degraded salt affected lands in Saudi Arabia. © 2007 Asian Network for Scientific Information.