An Environmental Study to Adapt some Hadhramout Coast Plant for Drought and Salinity Tolerance

Authors

Fatehia Ali Bashantoof, College of Science, Hadhramout University
Ahmed Sbit Bamousy, College of Science, Hadhramout University
Abdulkarim Saber Ali, College of Science and Technology, Al Neelain University

Abstract

The study was conducted between May 2016-August 2017. An auger was used to collect 60 random soil samples to carry out the physical and chemical analyses. The selected plants were Salola baryosma and Aeurops lagopoides in the salt marsh and Prosopis juliflora and Calotropis procera in the valleys. The results revealed clear physical and chemical differences within the soils of the salt marshes and valleys that prove to be sandy, loamy, basic and saline. All investigated variables differ in the selected areas e.g. % of sand, silt, clay. The soil of all the salt marshes was devoid of gravel which was abundant in the valleys’ soils. Similar differences were evident for the pH, moisture content, EC, TDS, SO4 2- , CO3 2- ,Cl- ,Ca+2 , Na+ , K+ in the salt marsh and valleys.The results of frequency, density/hectare and richness indicated that Salsola and Aeluropus and Suaeda aegyptiaca scored the highest values in the salt marsh and whereas Prosopis and Senna alexandriana Mill and Calotropis prospered within the valleys. The least values for these parameters were related to Dactyloctinium aegyptium (L) Wild, Phonix dactylifera L. in the salt marsh and Andropogon cucomus and Cynodon dactylon in the valleys. The vegetation of these sand dunes consists of plants tolerant to the dunes’ harsh environmental conditions e.g. Aeluropus lagopoides and Prosopis juliflora. The lifestyles of vegetation included trees, shrubs, herbs and grasses depending on the local conditions; shrubs were the most abundant.The chemical analyses results indicated that the superiority of Umbeekha salt marsh and valley over Boyish and Alaega with regard to Cl- , Na+ , K+ , Mg+2 and proline constituents within the leaves of Salsola and Aeluropus and Prosopis and Calotropis, The present study recommended conserving, developing and sustainable management of the vegetation cover in the study area. Laws and environmental legislations that guarantee rational use must be formulated. To improve environmental awareness on the importance of its vegetation, biodiversity and rationalization of human activities and to conduct the essential scientific research to improve and conserve.

Recommended Citation

Bashantoof, Fatehia Ali; Bamousy, Ahmed Sbit; and Ali, Abdulkarim Saber (2019) "An Environmental Study to Adapt some Hadhramout Coast Plant for Drought and Salinity Tolerance," Hadhramout University Journal of Natural & Applied Sciences: Vol. 16: Iss. 2, Article 12.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.aaru.edu.jo/huj_nas/vol16/iss2/12