PERFORMANCE OF SEVERAL TREE SPECIES ON A SALINE SITE IN SOUTHERN PAKISTAN

Abstract

Fast-growing, salt-tolerant trees and shrubs can productively use salt-affected land and contribute to its reclamation. We report on survival and growth of several tree species on a highly saline (mean EC_{e (0—60 cm)} 21 dS m^-1) site underlain by shallow saline water table, near Hyderabad, Pakistan. At 21 months after planting, four types of responses were found to salinity with Acacia ampliceps (seedlot 15769) the least tolerant and Casuarina equisetifolia the most tolerant. Amongst the acacias, A. maconochieana and A. stenophylla (15736) were more tolerant than A. ampliceps and A. nilotica. Significant differences were found among provenances of A. ampliceps, A. stenophylla and C. glauca. Acacia victoriae, C. obesa and Eucalyptus camaldulensis had poor survival. Acacia auriculiformis, A. salicina, E. occidentalis, Cassia sturtii and Azadirachta indica died within one week of planting. Floodwaters covered the site for about two months following heavy monsoon rains from about 21 months, resulting in high mortality for most species. Acacia nilotica, A. stenophylla, C. glauca and C. obesa survived well, whilst other species had either poor or no survival. Surviving trees of A. stenophylla, A. nilotica, Atriplex lentiformis and E. microtheca continued to grow reasonably following flooding, whilst surviving trees of other species grew slowly.