Desert perennials as plant and soil indicators in Eastern Arabia

Soils of different Eastern Arabian vegetation types, dominated by five desert perennials have been analysed for their texture, salinity and surface hardness. 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 (Moq.) Bge., Pennisetum divisum (Gmel.) 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. Z. mandavillei indicates the highest salinity levels, the largest soil particle size, and the hardest soil surfaces.