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ABSTRACT
Given the increasing pressure imposed by the social economy upon land supply, the improvement and utilization of saline-alkali soil has been included in the development and remediation plans of land resources. However, coastal saline-alkali land cannot be easily improved because of its simple ecosystem structure, weak ecological environment, and exposure to tide invasion. In order to explore viable improvements and sustainable utilization methods as well as to improve the ecological environment quality and utilization efficiency of coastal saline-alkali land, this study performed field experiments on coastal saline-alkali soil by growing plants in the state-owned Zhongjie Friendship Farm in Huanghua City. In the experiments, salt-tolerant plants were planted in a field without any organic fertilizer and soil conditioner, and their survival rates, growth amounts, and states were subsequently analysed. Twelve plant species with certain salt tolerances were selected. The experimental results demonstrate that Lagerstroemia indica L., Rhus typhina Nutt and Lycium chínense (leaf use) grow well in the field as well as show high adaptability and the highest survival rates (100%) among all selected species. Fraxinus americana (fast-growing), Ligustrum vicaryi and Koelreuteria paniculata Laxm have survival rates of over 85%, while Buxus megistophylla, R. typhina Nutt, Hibiscus syriacus Linn., Parthenocissus semicordata (Wall.) Planch., and Fraxinus chinensis Roxb. have high survival rates ranging from 67.5% to 70%. The experimental results also reveal that the adaptability of salt-tolerant plants to coastal saline-alkali soil is higher than their transformation ability. Root growth also has a certain effect on the improvement of soil fertility. This study provides references for the treatment and sustainable utilization of saline-alkali land in a coastal area with moderate salinization.
Nat. Env. & Poll. Tech.
Website: www.neptjournal.com
Received: 16-02-2018
Accepted: 15-04-2018
Key Words:
Saline-alkali soil
Coastal area
Salt-tolerant plants
Huanghua city
INTRODUCTION
Saline-alkaline soil is widely distributed in the coastal areas of China. Various saline soils can be found in the 18,000 km total coastal area of China and in the 5x106 hm2 land area of coastal provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions (Yang Jinsong 2008). Coastal areas are vulnerable to be invaded by tides, and conventional saline-alkali land management measures can hardly achieve the desired results because of serious salinity problems, harsh natural conditions, simple ecosystem structure, poor stability, and fragile ecological environment. The...