- Effectiveness for erosion control, lowering ground water, and improvement of habitat for
wildlife
In addition, the plant must be evaluated by another set of criteria before attempting its development
on a crop scale.
- Establishment:
a. Seed germination percentage
b. Vegetative propagation
c. Seedling vigor and root establishment
d. Need for supplemental water and nutrition - Hardiness under crop production densities:
a. Insect and disease resistance
b. Intra- and interspecific competition - Ecological traits:
a. Ecotype variability from which to select stock for introduction
b. Total genetic plasticity to different ecosystems
Many halophytic species appear to have significant economic potential for desert agriculture. In ad-
dition, the productivity of cultivated halophytes is high. Haloxeric species of the genus Atriplexare
widely used as fodder crops in otherwise unusable saline wastelands in many parts of the world. Many
Atriplexspecies are promising in the reclamation of the salt-affected lands. Use of salt-affected soils for
uncontrolled grazing, subsistence cropping, or intensive fuel gathering results in degradation of the natu-
ral vegetation cover. This process may take decades to reverse, and the land may never be returned to its
original condition. To slow such deterioration, new economically useful exotic species can be introduced
in these areas. Forage-yielding xerohalophytes such as Atriplexcan be suitable candidates for the man-
agement of saline wastelands because these plants can also be irrigated with brackish water. Land recla-
mation and rehabilitation in arid zones can be achieved by using salt-tolerant plant species for a number
of different purposes suited to the local conditions.
Many halophytic species (e.g., Arthrocnemumspp.,Nitraria retusa, Salicorniaspp.) are capable of
forming adventitious roots on their twigs. This ability varies among species and according to the season
of the year [44]. Vegetative propagation is of great advantage in revegetating salt-affected soils. It favors
more assured establishment in the field than direct seeding or seedling transplantation. Rooted stem cut-
tings of Atriplexare also helpful in raising a large number of plants with such desired properties as fa-
vorable growth habits, regeneration capacity, leafiness, and palatability.
Vegetative propagation of desert shrubs is a means of producing genetically identical individuals in
species whose sexually produced offspring normally exhibit higher variability. Reduced variability of
plant materials can increase experimental precision, and many genetically identical individuals are nec-
essary for varietal testing. Reproduction of desirable parental characteristics such as high seed yield
would be valuable in the establishment of seed nurseries. Vegetative propagation is also a method of pro-
ducing transplants of species whose seeds do not germinate readily.
II. VEGETATIVE PROPAGATION OF SALTBUSH (Atriplexspp.)
A. amnicolaPaul G. Wilson (river saltbush or swamp saltbush) shows a remarkable high growth rate un-
der desert conditions. The seedlings can be transplanted in the first week of October and can be irrigated
with poor quality water. For the first 2–3 months the growth rate is slow, after which fast growth occurs.
Enormous production of side branches during the winter season is a very distinctive feature, and these
newly formed branches (stems) are soft, fleshy, and purplish pink in color. By mid-December plants at-
tain a height of about 60–70 cm and lateral branches measure about 50–60 cm. Plants may show two types
of growth patterns: (1) an erect type and (2) a prostrate spreading type. Two-year-old plants may cover
an area of more than 2–5 m^2. These plants grow sideways and cover the ground very rapidly.
Rooted cuttings of Atriplexspecies are needed to establish a rapid plantation. Some Atriplexspecies
are subdioecious, with at least three genders [45]. Moreover, rooted cuttings can be used to propagate su-
VEGETATIVE PROPAGATION OF SALTBUSH AND MULBERRY 131