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Adaptive growth response of exotic Elaeagnus angustifolia L. to indigenous saline soil and its beneficial effects on the soil system in the Yellow River Delta, China

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Our manuscript showed that Elaeagnus angustifolia L. can be introduced to the Yellow River Delta of China and planting E. angustifolia was beneficial effects on the soil system.

Abstract

The saline soil of the Yellow River Delta of China is not suitable for the growth of crop and afforestation seedlings due to high salt content, high underground water level, and deficiencies in organic matter, nitrogen and phosphorus, which limits urban road greening around the Yellow River Delta. Elaeagnus angustifolia L. (E. angustifolia) is a member of the Elaeagnaceae family, which is a deciduous shrub or small tree. Due to its good resistance, E. angustifolia has been planted widely in the western region of China, and it has been used for wind breaking, landscaping and sand stabilization. Furthermore, E. angustifolia seedlings were introduced to the Yellow River Delta due to its strong stress and adaptive growth response, which were studied in 2014 and 2015. The results revealed that the seedlings of E. angustifolia grew well with high relative growth rates, big crowns, thick basal diameter, thick diameter at the breast height, and many branches, especially during the second year. Planting E. angustifolia on the Yellow River Delta significantly decreased its salt content, and increased its content of organic matter, nitrogen and phosphorus, as well as the number of fungus, bacteria, salt-tolerant bacteria, actinomycetes and salt-tolerant actinomycetes, especially after planting E. angustifolia for two consecutive years. In conclusion, E. angustifolia seedlings can grow well in the saline soil of the Yellow River Delta with a large biomass. In turn, planting E. angustifolia could improve saline soil properties. Hence, E. angustifolia can be a potential local greening tree species.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant 31400239), the National Basic Research Program of China (Grant 2012CB114201), the Science and Technology Development Projects of Shandong Province (Grant 2013GNC11310), Major projects of science and technology in Shandong province (2015ZDJS03002) and the Program for Scientific Research Innovation Team in Colleges and Universities of Shandong Province.

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Author notes

  1. Yan Qi and Junpeng Li contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Stress Research, College of Life Science, Shandong Normal University, No. 88, East Wenhua Road, Jinan, 250014, Shandong, People’s Republic of China

    Yan Qi, Junpeng Li, Chunxiao Chen, Lingxiao Li, Xiuling Zheng, Jing Liu, Tingting Zhu, Baoshan Wang & Min Chen

  2. Key Laboratory of Forest Tree Genetic Improvement, Shandong Academy of Forestry, Jinan, 250014, Shandong, People’s Republic of China

    Caihong Pang

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  1. Yan Qi
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  2. Junpeng Li
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  3. Chunxiao Chen
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  4. Lingxiao Li
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  5. Xiuling Zheng
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  6. Jing Liu
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  8. Caihong Pang
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  9. Baoshan Wang
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  10. Min Chen
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Correspondence to Min Chen.

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Communicated by Loretta Gratani.

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Qi, Y., Li, J., Chen, C. et al. Adaptive growth response of exotic Elaeagnus angustifolia L. to indigenous saline soil and its beneficial effects on the soil system in the Yellow River Delta, China. Trees 32, 1723–1735 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-018-1746-4

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