POONAM CHOUDHARY*, MANOJ KUMAR AND SUNDER SINGH ARYA
Department of Botany, Baba Mastnath University, Rohtak-124 021 (Haryana), India
(e-mail : poonammalik3112@gamil.com; Mobile : 9999883437)
(Received : April 1, 2020; Accepted : June 12, 2020)
ABSTRACT
The study of ion-accumulating characteristics of halophytes growing in natural saline-arid areas can be an effective management option for extreme saline soils. A field survey of some selected salt-affected sites
of Rohtak and Jhajjar districts, namely, Dhandlan, Dighal and Chuliyana villages was carried out to explore the halophytic species at different saline sites. It was observed that a total of seven species, namely, Atriplex nummularia, Atriplex lentiformis, Arundo donax, Tamarix aphylla, Heliotropium ramossimum, Suaeda fruticosa and Suaeda nudiflora were growing naturally under these problematic soils. Studied sites had electrical conductivity (ECe) values ranging from 9.75-53.9 dS/m. Greater accumulation of most of ions (Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Cl– and SO42-) was observed in leaves of S. fruticosa and S. nudiflora followed by Atriplex species, which had a survival mechanism of these halophytic species under poor conditions of salinity.
Key words : Halophytes, salinity, mineral ions