Review of Haloxylon Salicornicum - Page 1

This review provides scientific information about 'Haloxylon Salicornicum' - Page 1.

Vegetation development in an oil-contaminated area of northern Kuwait, where the natural vegetation is dominated by the dwarf shrub Haloxylon salicornicum, was studied seven years after the release of the oil. Some sites of the study area were largely unaffected, whereas others were contaminated to varying degrees by oil. Tar-like oil tracks accounted for the largest proportion of contaminated ground, and these remained largely unvegetated. However, a number of Haloxylon shrubs survived the oil contamination mainly due to the presence of phytogenic hillocks around their bases. These phytogenic hillocks provided 'safe sites' for a number of plant species. This also applied to blow-outs, former phytogenic hillocks on the oil tracks that had been subject to severe sand deflation in recent years. Species composition on both the phytogenic hillocks and in the blow-outs was very similar to that of the control area. Laboratory studies showed that the seed bank under the oil tracks had been annihilated. The number of seedlings emerging from soil samples was lower on the phytogenic hillocks and blow-outs than in the control areas. We conclude that recolonization of oil tracks will gradually take place as the hard surface of the tracks begins to disintegrate, or in part becomes covered by sand. The break-up of the track surface has already begun to a limited extent, mainly due to factors such as off-road driving, large herds of grazing animals, burrowing animals and colonies of ants. Two hundred observations by point-quadrat, located on 45 transects, were made. Four types of habitats were sampled: terraces, channels, banks and bars. Each sample included the list of perennial species with cover estimation and superficial texture of substrate with estimation of grain size cover. Granulometric analysis shows that the samples are organized by their constituent proportions in fines particles, coarse particles and bare rock. Floristic analysis of perennial species separate five communities among a common set of species. The co-analysis of the floristic and the granulometric data sets shows the relationships between vegetation and superficial texture: Pulicaria crispa Oliv. In Grant. Community and Zilla spinosa Prantl. Community are foundin fine grain sizes, the former in channel and the latter on banks. Achillea fragantissima Sch. Bip. Community and Ochradenus baccatus Delile community are located on coarse substrates, the former in channel and the latter on banks and Haloxylon salicornicum Bunge ex. Boiss. Community on bare rock. Haloxylon salicornicum seeds exhibited no dormancy as 84% of mature seeds germinated immediately after harvest. In Zygophyllum qatarense, a succulent perennial herb, seeds are small, black in colour and are dispersed during November. Under laboratory conditions, 66% of these seeds germinated after 2 days. Similarly in Tamarix aucheriana, a large halophytic shrub with winged seeds that are dispersed by wind, fresh seeds germinated readily and the highest germination occurred within a day of sowing. In Zygophyllum qatarense and Tamarix aucheriana best germination was obtained in distilled water. Increase in NaCl concentration inhibited germination in all species. The degree of inhibitation varied among the species. The vegetation types were analysed for plant species richness and composition. Special emphasis was given to Abu Dhabi's widespread terrestrial perennials Cyperus conglomeratus Rottb., Haloxylon salicornicum Bge., Pennisetum divisum Henr., Seidlitzia rosmarinus Ehrenb. Ex Bge. And Zygophyllum mandavillei Hadidi. The results show some important relationships between soils and plants. C conglomeratus indicates the lowest soil salinity levels and the finest texture. P divisum indicates the highest species richness and S rosmarinus indicates the lowest species richness. A study of Rhanterium epapposum and Haloxylon salicornicum steppe was therefore effected to determine the seasonal variation in above-ground phytomass and percentage cover, and to investigate differences between protected and adjacent grazed areas. An average seasonal precipitation of 90 mm supported a mean of 223 kg ha-1 in arfaj steppe in 1979-1989, whereas an average mean seasonal precipitation of 73 mm during 1983-1989 maintained a mean phytomass of 102 kg ha-1 in the remeth steppe. Annual forbs and perennial shrubs were the greatest producers of dry matter per kg of phytomass in the arfaj and remeth steppes, respectively. The seasonal production of dry matter was related directly to the seasonal

precipitation in the arfaj steppe, whereas the remeth steppe did not show an obvious relationship to the precipitation. Their formation is due to the accumulation of wind-blown sand, particularly on the leeward side of shrubs. The present study provides a first account of the flora and vegetational aspects of such dunes associated with the chenopod Haloxylon salicornicum in a sand-depleted area of Kuwait. Therophytes account for by far the largest proportion of the 51 species found on the 31 micro-nebkas investigated. Species number on individual mounds is positively correlated with nebka size, not however, with total cover of the accompanying vegetation. Species with both Saharo-Arabian and Irano-Turanian phytogeographical affinities predominate. At the sand-depleted study site, a distinct pattern was found with respect to vegetation development and species composition on the micro-nebkas. Very striking is the fact that the leeward side of these dunes offers the most favourable growth conditions for the majority of species, as indicated by the dense vegetation cover and more vigorous growth of the individual component species. In laboratory feeding trials, individuals fed on C colocynthis, Chenopodium album, Corchorus antichorus, Heliotropium sp, Haloxylon salicornicum, mooli, mustard and castor. The W desert was characterized by Artemisia herba-alba, Anvillea garcini and Noaea mucronata. Associations of A herba-alba and Salsola orientalis provided year-round grazing for sheep and camels. Overgrazing was a problem in many areas. The central desert had stands of Haloxylon salicornicum, sometimes mixed with A herba-alba and recommended for sheep and camels, and of Astragalus spinosus. The S desert was less stony and the H salicornicum was interspersed with ephemerals, Rhantherium papposum stands were common and H persicum occurred in the sandy areas. Upper Mesopotamia had a wide range of vegetation of which Achillea fragrantissima, A herba-alba and Poa/Carex associations had high grazing value while Zygophyllum coccineum, Prosopis farcta and Artemisia scoparia afforded low quality camel feed. Lower Mesopotamia had much salt land, meadows of Aeluropus littoralis and Phragmites australis as well as desert vegetation. The piedmont zone and the mountain-forest zone had good grasslands but in the latter area haymaking was the preferred method of utilization to avoid soil erosion. The mountain zone had thorn-cushion Astragalus formations suitable for grazing sheep, goats and horses in summer. Leachates were prepared from fresh and dry foliage of R stricta. Seeds were germinated in petri dishes moistened with either leachates or tap water. Leachates inhibited seed germination with fresh foliage leachate being most severe. Complete germination inhibition was observed in Farsetia aegyptia and Pennisetum divisum. Haloxylon salicornicum and Lasiurus scindicus were the least affected. Rate of germination was also significantly reduced. H salicornicum was the least affected, while other species were greatly reduced. Washing and re-germination of the remaining non-germinated seeds indicated that seed viability of F aegyptia and P divisum may have been lost in the presence of leachates. Osmotic effects of leachates may have contributed to germination inhibition in Atriplex halimus, Achillea fragrantissima, L scindicus and R stricta. Seventy-five stands were examined and the matrix of 68 species x 75 stands, based on species cover data, was classified using TWINSPAN and ordinated using DCA Eleven vegetation groups were generated: one dominated by Haloxylon salicornicum and five dominated by Acacia spp. The Acacia spp communities represent the climax stage of the xerophytic vegetation in Saudi Arabia and have, in most cases, high species cover and low species diversity. Another five groups are dominated, fully or partly, by species that often inhabit disturbed areas. Many of these groups have low species cover and relatively high species diversity.
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