Title : ( Possible Utilization of Halophytes as Alternative Crops in Saline Agroecosystems )
Authors: Mohammad Kafi ,Access to full-text not allowed by authors
Abstract
High salinity causes water deficit, ion toxicity, and nutrient deficiency leading to molecular damage, growth arrest of plants. Production of halophytes using saline waters and soils is one of the most sustainable ways of conservation desert ecosystems. Therefore, in order to study the possibility of growing Kochia (Kochia scoparia) as a forage crop in arid environments reach in saline underground water, a series of experiments were performed. Germination tests were evaluated in germinators under different temperatures (10-40 oC, with 5 oC intervals), and salinity levels (0-20 dS/m, 5 dS/m intervals). Growth and development of kochia tested in the field in three levels of saline irrigation water (1.5, 8.6 and 28.2 dS/m). The biological yield, leaf and stem dry weight, plant height, number of branches, oil yield, protein percentage, protein yield were measured. The results showed that kochia can adjust its germination in a wide range of temperature, from 3.4 (Tbase) to 49.7 oC (Tmax) and optimum germination temperature of 24 oC. Salinity negatively influenced the majority of plant\\\'s morphological and physiological indices, yet the dry matter accumulation in the highest salinity level reached 60% of plants in lower saline levels, and even the moderate salinity caused a little stimulus in plant\\\'s growth and yield performance. Results showed that the highest biological and seed yield obtained at 30 and 20plant m-2 respectively. In Conclusion, the Kochia’s high production capacity in the presence of salinity and other desert stresses such as high temperature and drought make this plant capable as a forage crop in harsh environmental conditions.
Keywords
Possible Utilization of Halophytes as Alternative Crops in Saline Agroecosystems@inproceedings{paperid:1020514,
author = {Kafi, Mohammad},
title = {Possible Utilization of Halophytes as Alternative Crops in Saline Agroecosystems},
booktitle = {International Conference Plant Abiotic Stress Tolerance},
year = {2009},
location = {وین},
keywords = {Possible Utilization of Halophytes as Alternative Crops in Saline Agroecosystems},
}
%0 Conference Proceedings
%T Possible Utilization of Halophytes as Alternative Crops in Saline Agroecosystems
%A Kafi, Mohammad
%J International Conference Plant Abiotic Stress Tolerance
%D 2009