title: Biomass production, nutrient cycling, and carbon fixation by Salicornia brachiata Roxb.: A promising halophyte for coastal saline soil rehabilitation.
abstract: In order to increase our understanding of the interaction of soil-halophyte (Salicornia brachiata) relations and phytoremediation, we investigated the aboveground biomass, carbon fixation, and nutrient composition (N, P, K, Na, Ca, and Mg) of S. brachiata using six sampling sites with varying characteristics over one growing season in intertidal marshes. Simultaneously, soil characteristics and nutrient concentrations were also estimated. There was a significant variation in soil characteristics and nutrient contents spatially (except pH) as well as temporally. Nutrient contents in aboveground biomass of S. brachiata were also significantly differed spatially (except C and Cl) as well as temporally. Aboveground biomass of S. brachiata ranged from 2.51 to 6.07 t/ha at maturity and it was positively correlated with soil electrical conductivity and available Na, whereas negatively with soil pH. The K/Na ratio in plant was below one, showing tolerance to salinity. The aboveground C fixation values ranged from 0.77 to 1.93 C t/ha at all six sampling sites. This study provides new understandings into nutrient cycling-C fixation potential of highly salt-tolerant halophyte S. brachiata growing on intertidal soils of India. S. brachiata have a potential for amelioration of the salinity due to higher Na bioaccumulation factor.
authors: a Marine Biotechnology and Ecology Division, CSIR - Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute, G. B. Marg, Bhavnagar, Gujarat, India and Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), CSIR , New Delhi , India.
authors: Aditya P
authors: AP
authors: Rathore
authors: a Marine Biotechnology and Ecology Division, CSIR - Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute, G. B. Marg, Bhavnagar, Gujarat, India and Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), CSIR , New Delhi , India.
authors: Doongar R
authors: DR
authors: Chaudhary
authors: a Marine Biotechnology and Ecology Division, CSIR - Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute, G. B. Marg, Bhavnagar, Gujarat, India and Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), CSIR , New Delhi , India.
authors: Bhavanath
authors: B
authors: Jha
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D018533:Biomass; D057486:Carbon Cycle; D019663:Chenopodiaceae / Q000378:metabolism*; D007194:India; D053858:Metabolic Networks and Pathways; D055051:Salt-Tolerant Plants / Q000378:metabolism; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D012987:Soil
keywords: halophyte; phytoremediation; salt marsh; salt tolerance; soil-plant relationship