Effect of Water Stress on Growth and Mineral Composition of Salvadora persica and Atriplex halimus in Al-Ahsa Oasis, Saudi Arabia

Research demonstrates that Salvadora persica and Atriplex halimus, two drought-resistant landscape trees native to Al-Ahsa Oasis, Saudi Arabia, can thrive under severe water stress conditions. While S. persica exhibited increased growth and biomass with higher water stress, A. halimus showed significant declines in these metrics. Notably, protein content in S. persica peaked at 75% soil moisture depletion, while mineral composition varied distinctly between the species—K and Ca concentrations rose under stress for both, but P, Mg, and Na levels decreased in S. persica, contrasting with A. halimus, where Na increased. The study, conducted using pot experiments with varying irrigation levels (0%, 25%, 50%, and 75% soil moisture depletion) and saline groundwater (1200 mg/L), underscores the potential for these species to sustain biomass production in arid environments, supporting sustainable windbreaks and microclimate improvement around irrigated agriculture. These findings offer practical insights for water management in desert landscapes.

Alhajhoj, M. R. (2017). Effect of Water Stress on Growth and Mineral Composition of Salvadora persica and Atriplex halimus in Al-Ahsa Oasis, Saudi Arabia. Journal of Applied Sciences, 17(5), 253–258. https://doi.org/10.3923/jas.2017.253.258