Phytodesalination of a moderately-salt-affected soil by Sulla carnosa

The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the ability of the indifferent halophyte Sulla carnosa Desf. to desalinize a moderately-salt-affected soil. Seeds were sown on a fertile soil added or not with 1.5 g NaCl. kg(-1). Analogous treatments without plantation (control and salinized) were also used. Plant culture was performed under greenhouse conditions in non-perforated pots containing 10 kg soil each and irrigated with non-saline tap water. After 80 days of treatment, shoots were harvested. Soil samples were also collected after division of soil column in each pot into two horizons. Our results showed that salt addition increased electrical conductivity of saturation paste extract (ECe)from 3.3 to 8.4 dS. m(-1) and soluble sodium concentration from 0.32 to 1.15 g. kg(-1) soil in the upper horizon. In the lower horizon however, Na+ concentration was quasi-constant and then ECe was less increased. Plant culture inversed this pattern of sodium accumulation and salinity. Its productivity and phytodesalination capacity in 80 days were 5.0 t DW. ha(-1) and 0.3 t Na+. ha(-1) (24% of the added quantity), respectively. Interestingly, sodium dilution within biomass (41.5-45.6 mg. g(-1) DW) and the non-altered nutrition make this plant suitable for forage as second use after phytodesalination.