Effects of salinity on germination and seedling growth of Prosopis flexuosa (D.C.)

CATALÁN L; BALZARINI M; TALEISNIK E; SERENO R; KARLIN U

FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT

Año: 1993 vol. 63 p. 347 - 357

0378-1127

Prosopis flexuosa, the most widespread arboreal legume found on saline soils in Argentina, is regarded as an especially attractive species for the productive recovery of arid and salt-affected areas. The effects of salinity on germination and seedling growth of this species were studied. Salt tolerance during germination was examined in seeds collected from two populations growing either on saline or non-saline soil. Significant decreases in germination percentage were observed above 0.2 M NaCl. Variability was higher among individual trees than between populations and highest at 0.4 M NaCl. A 50% decrease in final height was observed in the treatment with 0.4 M NaCl, where substrate in the pots had reached a final salt concentration of nearly 1 M NaCl. In Prosopis flexuosa, salt tolerance at the seedling stage appears to be greater than at the germination stage, suggesting that seedling could be used for afflorestation of salt-affected areas.