EFFECTS OF THE HALOPHYTES TECTICORNIA INDICA AND SUAEDA FRUTICOSA ON SOIL ENZYME ACTIVITIES IN A MEDITERRANEAN SABKHA |
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Authors: | Youssef Ouni Abdelbasset Lakhdar Mokded Rabhi Abderrazak Smaoui A Rao Maria Abdelly Chedly |
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Institution: | 1. Laboratory of Extremophile Plants, Biotechnology Centre of Borj-Cedria , University of Tunis El Manar , Hammam-Lif , Tunisia;2. Department of Soil and Science , Università di Napoli Federico II , Portici , Italy |
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Abstract: | In the present work, we studied the effectiveness of the predominant halophytes of Soliman sabkha (Tecticornia indica and Suaeda fruticosa) to promote soil biological activities and ecosystem productivity. Soil Arylsulphatese ARY, β-glucosidase β-GLU, phosphatase PHO, invertase INV, urease URE, and dehydogenase DES activities in Extra- and Intra-tuft halophytes and plant productivity were assessed. Results revealed a high increase of microbial community and ARY, β-GLU, PHO, INV, URE and DES activities (+298%, +400%, +800%, +350%, +320%, +25% and +759%, respectively) in Intra-tuft rhizosphere as compared to Extra-tuft one, which is likely due to the significant decrease of salinity in the rhizosphere of Tecticornia indica and Suaeda fruticosa. Both perennial plants exhibited high productivities (7.4 t dry weight ha?1 and 2.2 t dry weight ha?1, respectively) and Na+-hyperaccumulating capacities (0.75 t Na+ ha?1 and 0.22 t Na+ ha?1, respectively), reducing salt constraint and favouring soil fertility. This constitutes a promising alternative to enhance productivity in such a salt-affected biotope by offering suitable microhabitat for annual glycophytes. |
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Keywords: | halophytes phytodesalination plant productivity sabkha soil biological activities |
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