Back to Contents

FREE FULL TEXT PDF

SCREENING OF MESQUITE (PROSOPIS spp.) FOR BIOMASS PRODUCTION AT BARREN SANDY AREAS USING HIGHLY SALINE WATER FOR IRRIGATION

RAFIQ AHMAD, SHOAIB ISMAIL, M. MOINUDDIN AND TARANA SHAHEEN

Abstract: Experiments were carried out to screen local and exotic species/accession/provenances of Prosopis species at germination and seedling stages under salinity conditions. Field trials were also undertaken to .Iuate potential species/ accessions /provenances under salt stress. Seeds of indigenous P. juliflora and P.giandulosa showed higher germination than seeds of P. cineraria and the exotic species under non.tine as well as under different levels of salinity stress with EC values of NaCl solutions ranging from 030 dS.m^-1 There was a decrease in germination of all species with increasing salinity levels. Seedling anergence was completely inhibited above EC 10 dS.m ^-1 in P. juliflora and P. cineraria and above EC 15 dS.m^-1 in P. glandulosa. Growth of 3 indigenous and 2 exotic Prosopis species/provenances in pots containing sandy soil irrigated with dilutions of sea water adjusted at EC_iw : of 10, 20, 30, and 40 dS.m ^-1 showed that P. glandulosa did not survive beyond EC_iw : of 20 dS.m^-1. Among the surviving plants, P. juliflora obtained from Brazil grew at the highest salt concentration and showed minimum biomass reduction in comparision with other species. In a field experiment, seedlings of 12 indigenous and 8 exotic species/accessions/provenances of Proscpis transplanted under field conditions and irrigated with saline water (EC: 14-16 dS.m^-1) showed that the indigenous species/provenances, viz., P. juliflora (D.I Khan) and P. glandulosa (Sujawal), and the exotic species/accessions, P. alba (Acc.# 0166) and 2 South American species showed better growth in terms of plant height and stem diameter under prevailing haloxeric conditions. Importance of mesquite CIItivation for providing fodder, fuelwood, timber, and checking

Biosaline Research Laboratories, Depart/hent of Botany, University of Karachi, Karachi- 75270, Pakistan.