Optimal soil salinity levels for the highest phytodesalination parameters in the obligate halophyte Sesuvium portulacastrum L.

Sesuvium portulacastrum plants were grown on soils with increasing electrical conductivity of the saturation paste extract (ECe: 3.7, 10.1, 12.6, 15.5, 23.3, and 38.1 dS m(-1)). Results showed a high productivity over a wide range of salinity levels with an optimum (4.4 t DW ha(-1)) at 15.5 dS m(-1). Plants maintained an adequate shoot water content and non-affected Ca and Mg statuses even at the highest salinity level (38.1 dS m(-1)). S. portulacastrum cultivation on NaCl-added soils significantly decreased ECe and soluble Na concentration due to its high phytodesalination capacity and rate. Thus, S. portulacastrum is highly productive and can extract high sodium amounts from soil with 10.1 <= ECe <= 23.3 dS m(-1) and 1.2 g kg(-1) soil <= soluble Na concentration <= 2.6 g kg(-1) soil. Nevertheless, the highest phytodesalination capacity and rate were obtained at about 15.5 dS m(-1) and 1.9 g soluble Na kg(-1) soil.