Leaching requirement and salinity threshold for the yield and agronomic characteristics of halophytes under salt stress

An experiment was carried out at Nahshala Farm, north west of Al-Ain City, U.A.E. during the 1998–2000 growing seasons, using six halophytes (Batis maritima, Distichlis spicata, Juncus roemerianus, Paspalum vaginatum, Salicornia bigelovii and Spartina alterniflora) and two levels of leaching fraction (0•25 and 0•50) under three irrigation salinity levels (10, 20, and 40 gL−1) in a randomized complete block design arranged in split plots. The purpose of the research was to apply the theory of crop salt tolerance on aboveground yields and agronomic characteristics of halophytes to determine their thresholds for salinity and to determine leaching requirements. The results indicated that the halophyte species tested can grow with minimum reduction in the growth potential at <20 gL−1of mean salinity of soil solution. Leaching fraction (LF) of 0•25 at the highest salinity of irrigation water (40 gL−1) was inadequate to attain the steady-state salt balance during the growth period, although the drainage salinity reached more than 90 g L−1. Furthermore, if the same level of LF is used for longer period, soil salinity under this high salt treatment will continue to rise, and plant growth may deteriorate. Leaching fraction of 0•50 is preferable if salinity of irrigation water was more than 20 gL−1and dry matter production is considered, although the amount of water use will be excessive