Summary
Young saplings ofTamarix aphylla were investigated for their growth intensity under saline irrigation, as well as for the lethal limits of salinity they can tolerate. The saplings were found to be quite sensitive to the addition of NaCl to the irrigation solutions and died when the concentration of the solutions was raised to about 0.7.M NaCl. Growth was depressed even by irrigation with a 0.1M NaCl solution, and no increase in the plant weight was obtained under irrigation with a 0.3M NaCl solution. It, thus, appears thatT. aphylla is not suitable for afforestation of saline habitats.
Some aspects of the salt excretion ofT. aphylla were investigated. Sodium and chlorine were found to be excreted most readily and exhibit an optimum type of curve, when the excretion is plotted against the concentration of the irrigation solution. Interrelations between the various ions in the irrigation solutions and the amounts of salts excreted, were found to take place and to parallel the behaviour of these ions in their uptake by the roots.
T. aphylla seems to be able to reflect the soil's salinity and the composition of its salts, by the excreted salt crystals.
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Waisel, Y. Ecological studies onTamarix aphylla (L.) Karst. Plant Soil 13, 356–364 (1960). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01394647
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01394647