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 evaluate potential species/accessions/provenances under salt stress. Seeds of indigenous P. juliflora and P. glandulosa showed higher germination than seeds of P. cineraria and the exotic species under non-saline as well as under different levels of salinity stress with EV values of NaCl solutions ranging from 0-30 dS.m-1. There was a decrease in germination of all species with increasing salinity levels. Seedling emergence 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 comparison with other species.
In a field experiment, seedlings of 12 indigenous and 8 exotic species/accessions/provenances of Prosopis 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 cultivation for providing fodder, fuelwood, timber, and checking movement of sand dunes to control deserification is discussed.