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| Publication Type | J |
| Authors | Rabhi, M., C. Hafsi, A. Lakhdar, S. Hajji, Z. Barhoumi, M. H. Hamrouni, C. Abdelly and A. Smaoui |
| Title | Evaluation of the capacity of three halophytes to desalinize their rhizosphere as grown on saline soils under nonleaching conditions |
| Source | African Journal of Ecology |
| Author Keywords | aridity halophytes nonleaching conditions rhizosphere sodium accumulation soil desalination capacity SODIC SOIL AMELIORATION STRATEGIES SALT PHYTOREMEDIATION RECLAMATION TOLERANCE PLANTS GYPSUM GRASS |
| Abstract | In the sabkha of Soliman (N-E Tunisia), soil samples of the upper 20 cm were taken during the driest period of the year (July-August) from inside and outside tufts of two perennial halophytes: Arthrocnemum indicum (Willd.) Moq. and Suaeda fruticosa Forssk., both from family Chenopodiaceae. Samples were analysed for electrical conductivity of the saturation paste extract (ECe) and soluble sodium (Na+) content. Then, tufts were divided into three size categories and their shoot biomass production and Na+ content were determined. Our results showed a considerable contribution of shoot Na+ accumulation to rhizosphere desalination. The capacity of the two native halophytes A. indicum. and S. fruticosa to desalinize saline soils was compared with that of an introduced halophyte, Sesuvium portulacastrum L. (Aizoaceae). Seedlings were grown under greenhouse conditions in pots containing 8 kg of saline soil each. Pots were irrigated with tap water during 170 days without leaching. Our results confirmed the contribution of shoot Na+ accumulation to soil desalination. They showed also that among the three studied species, Sesuvium portulacastrum L. seems to be the most convenient to be used for this purpose in arid and semi-arid regions where precipitation is too low to leach salts from rhizosphere.Resume Dans la sebkha de Soliman (N-E de la Tunisie), des echantillons de sol ont ete preleves dans les 20 cm superieurs pendant la periode la plus seche de l'annee (juillet-aout) l'interieur et l'exterieur des touffes de deux halophytes perennes, Arthrocnemum indicum (Willd) Moq. et Suaeda fructicosa Forsk., appartenant tous deux la famille des Chenopodiaceae. L'analyse des echantillons s'est basee sur la conductiviteelectrique de la pte saturee (ECe) et le contenu en sodium (Na+) soluble. Par ailleurs, les touffes d'halophytes ont ete reparties en trois categories selon leur taille, puis des touffes representatives de chaque categorie ont ete recoltees pour la determination de la biomasse et la charge en Na+ de leurs parties aeriennes. Nos resultats ont montre que l'accumulation de ces ions au niveau des organes aeriens contribue considerablement au dessalement de la rhizosphere. La capacite des deux halophytes locales A. indicum et S. fructicosa de dessaler des sols salins a ete comparee celle d'un halophyte introduite, Sesuvium portulacastrum L. (Aizoaceae). De jeunes plantules ont ete cultivees sous serre dans des pots contenant chacun huit kilos de sol salin. Les pots ont ete irrigues l'eau de ville pendant 170 jours sans lessivage. Nos resultats ont confirme la contribution de l'accumulation de Na+ par les organes photosynthetiques au dessalement du sol. Ils ont montre, egalement, que, parmi les trois especes etudiees, S. portulacastrum semble etre la plus prometteuse pour un tel programme dans les regions arides et semi-arides ou les precipitations sont assez faibles pour lessiver les sels de la rhizosphere. |
| Author Address | [Rabhi, Mokded; Hafsi, Chokri; Lakhdar, Abdelbasset; Hajji, Said; Barhoumi, Zouhaier; Abdelly, Chedly; Smaoui, Abderrazak] Ctr Biotechnol, LAPSA, Hammam Lif 2050, Tunisia. [Hamrouni, Mohamed Hedi] Minist Agr Direct Soils, Ariana 2080, Tunisia. Rabhi, M, Ctr Biotechnol, LAPSA, Ecopk Borj Cedria PB 901, Hammam Lif 2050, Tunisia. mokdedrabhi@yahoo.fr |
| ISSN | 0141-6707 |
| ISBN | 0141-6707 |
| 29-Character Source Abbreviation | Afr. J. Ecol. |
| Publication Date | Dec |
| Year Published | 2009 |
| Volume | 47 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Beginning Page | 463-468 |
| Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | 10.1111/j.1365-2028.2008.00989.x |
| Unique Article Identifier | ISI:000271758600002 |
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