Halophytic fodder for an extreme saline-sodic ecosystem of arid and semi-arid regions

Abstract

Saline and sodic ecosystem represents one of the major ecosystems of land having an excess amount of salts in arable land. Halophytes are the plants that can tolerate salt concentration ranging from 500–100 mm NaCl (sodium chloride). One of the greatest potentials of halophytes probably rests in their utilization as forage and fodder. These palatable halophytes are nutritiously suitable to the animal. However, very few literatures are available on the palatability of these fodder resources. The studies on the nutritional quality of halophytes at ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute, RRS-Bhuj, revealed that wide variation in proximate composition exists in different halophytes.
Some of the common palatable halophytes found in arid Kachchh are Suaeda nudiflora, Aleuropus lagopoides, Sporobolus marginatus, Cressa cretica. These palatable halophytes can successfully be cultivated in the saline ecosystem. Detailed studies must be conducted to harvest their potential as a dryland fodder resource in arid saline soils.