Ali A. AI-Jaloud
Research Institute of Natural Resources and Environment, King Abdulaziz City for Science and
Technology P.O. Box 6086, Riyadh 11442, Saudi Arabia
M. Y. AI-Saiady
College of Agriculture, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2460, Riyadh 11451Saudi Arabia
A. M. Assaeed
College of Agriculture, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2460, Riyadh 11451Saudi Arabia
S. A. Chaudhary
National Agriculture and Water Research Center, Ministry of Agriculture and Water
P.O. Box 17285, Riyadh 11484, Saudi Arabia
ABSTRACT
Twelve species of halophyte plants were collected from AI-Jubail, Eastern Saudi Arabia to determine their mineral composition and relationship with soil chemical composition. The soil salinity ranged between 6.80 dS m -1 and 43.60 dS m -1 in the surface (0-15 cm depth) soil and between 8.25 dS m -1 and 37.65 dS m -1 in the whole profile (0-60 cm depth) of soil. The CaC03 contents varied between 9.12 to 84.03% in the surface soil. The dominant cations and anions in soils were Na+ and CF-. The available P, Fe, Cu and Mn were low in soil. The amount of Cu was in excess of toxic limits with respect to animal feed in all the plant species. Chenopods showed moderate level of crude protein (CP) than -grass, sedge and rush halophytes with low CP level. Ash contents were high in all the halophyte plants with the exception of Taverniera spartea, Sporobolus ioclados, Juncus rigidus and Cyperus conglomeratus. A poor correlation was observed between mineral composition of soils and plants which could be attributed mainly to high soil salinity. In conclusion, the halophyte plants showed an excellent potential not only for the development of sustainable rangelands in an arid environment but also highlighted a promising source of livestock food.
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How to cite this article
Ali A. AI-Jaloud, M. Y. AI-Saiady, A. M. Assaeed and S. A. Chaudhary, 2001. Some Halophyte Plants of Saudi Arabia, Their Composition and
Relation to Soil Properties. Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences, 4: 531-534.
DOI: 10.3923/pjbs.2001.531.534
URL: https://scialert.net/abstract/?doi=pjbs.2001.531.534
DOI: 10.3923/pjbs.2001.531.534
URL: https://scialert.net/abstract/?doi=pjbs.2001.531.534
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