Phytoremediation potential of some halophytic species for soil salinity

Abstract

Phytoremediation potential of six halophytic species i.e. Suaeda nudiflora, Suaeda fruticosa, Portulaca oleracea, Atriplex lentiformis, Parkinsonia aculeata and Xanthium strumarium was assessed under screen house conditions. Plants were raised at 8.0, 12.0, 16.0, and 20.0 dSm(-1) of chloride-dominated salinity. The control plants were irrigated with canal water. Sampling was done at vegetative stage (60-75 DAS). About 95 percent seed germination occurred up to 12 dSm(-1) and thereafter declined slightly. Mean plant height and dry weight plant(-1) were significantly decreased from 48.71 to 32.44 cm and from 1.73 to 0.61g plant(-1) respectively upon salinization. Na(+)/K(+) ratio (0.87 to 2.72), Na(+)/ Ca(2+) + Mg(2+) (0.48 to 1.54) and Cl(-)/SO4(2-) (0.94 to 5.04) ratio showed increasing trend. Salinity susceptibility index was found minimum in Suaeda fruticosa (0.72) and maximum in Parkinsonia aculeata (1.17). Total ionic content also declined and magnitude of decline varied from 8.51 to 18.91% at 8 dSm(-1) and 1.85 to 7.12% at 20 dSm(-1) of salinity. On the basis of phytoremediation potential Suaeda fruticosa (1170.02 mg plant(-1)), Atriplex lentiformis (777.87 mg plant(-1)) were the best salt hyperaccumulator plants whereas Xanthium strumarium (349.61 mg plant(-1)) and Parkinsonia aculeata (310.59 mg plant(-1)) were the least hyperaccumulator plants.

Edible halophytes of the Mediterranean basin: Potential candidates for novel food products

“…This species is commonly found in moist areas with high salinity, pH, Na and Cl (Chenchouni, 2017), while S. fruticosa plants can withstand salinity levels up to 300 mM NaCl through the increase of sugars, proline and proteins content (Hameed et al, 2012). According to Devi et al (2016) this species is a salt hyperaccumulator and can be used for phytoremediation of saline soils. Regarding the nutritional value of S. frtuticosa, its seeds contains about 25% oil that can be used for human consumption, while its leaves are edible and used for human consumption or as forage (Weber, Ansari, Gul, & Ajmal Khan, 2007).…”

Halophytes

“…Phytoremediation potential of six halophytic species, viz., Atriplex lentiformis, Portulaca oleracea, Parkinsonia aculeata, Suaeda fruticosa, Suaeda nudiflora, and Xanthium strumarium, was evaluated under glass house conditions in Hisar, India ( Devil et al 2016). They found that all these plants are salt hyperaccumulators.…”

Ensuring Food Security of Arid Regions through Sustainable Cultivation of Halophytes

“…is a halophyte belonging to Amaranthaceae family, and it commonly occurs in areas with high salt concentration. Its seeds have significant quantity of oil used by humans for different purposes, while foliage is used as food or forage (Devi et al 2016).…”