ABSTRACT

Over the past four years, 120 species of native and introduced plant species have been screened under conditions of seawater irrigation at a site on the Mediterranean coast of Israel. Plants were grown over a period of two years under irrigation with undiluted seawater (ECi 56.0 dS/m) and with 15 percent seawater (ECi 5.5 dS/m). Species with clear economic potential were preferentially tested, but any species thought to be capable of tolerating high salinity was considered suitable for inclusion at this early stage of our research. Results of the initial performance of all species screened to date are summarized. In addition, the life form, geographic distribution, "plant type" based on primary habitat, and photosynthetic pathway of each of the 120 species are reviewed in relation to their field performance. More detailed data on annual productivity and feed value are presented for seven species of Atriplex showing promise as fodder. Finally, the known and suspected economic uses of some outstandingly successful species are reviewed, together with a brief discussion of practical and experimental uses to date.