Salt affected soils in the Brazilian semiarid and phytoremediation as a reclamation alternative

Abstract

Under arid and semiarid climates, the natural process of soil formation can cause the accumulation of salts that limit plant growth and development. The Northeast region of Brazil has an extensive area under semiarid climate with drought most of the time. Additionally, the inadequate management of irrigation has promoted the accumulation of salts in soils, degrading them. Some of such areas are becoming unproductive and are abandoned. Reclamation techniques that involve drainage, use of chemical and organic conditioners, are expensive and difficult to implement. Phytoremediation of salt-affected soils is a low cost alternative. Plants adapted to the environment, which tolerate high levels of salts, can grow and produce biomass, should be studied. It is also important that the plants used are able to absorb the salts, extracting them from the soils. However, phytoremediation results are not observed in the short term. But, over time, phytoremediation promotes the return of vegetation to degraded soils, as well as the associated microbiota and protects the soil surface. This chapter reports trials in Brazil, evaluating some plant species for their ability to survive and improve soil quality.