Screening shrubs for establishment and survival on salt-affected soils in south-western Australia
1989
Malcolm, C.V. | Swaan, T.C. (Western Australian Dept. of Agriculture, Perth. Salinity and Hydrology Research Branch)
Nursery plants of 15 halophytic shrub species were planted into salt-affected soils at 14 sites in the Western Australian wheatbelt. Plant observations over 12 years indicated major differences in survival, growth habit, seedling regeneration, disease resistance and size. Some species were eliminated by waterlogging, but survival did not appear to relate directly to the salinity levels in the soils. On 9 test sites, Maireana brevifolia volunteered on the non-waterlogged parts of the plot and Halosarcia spp. on waterlogged sections. One or the other of these species grew at other sites depending on the waterlogging status of the plot. Atriplex spp. were more tolerant of waterlogging than M. brevifolia. Persistance of species in the trial areas depending either on longevity (e.g. A. amnicola), or recruitment of new plants, (e.g. M. brevifolia). Longevity of different selections of A. halimus appeared to relate to disease resistance.
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