Autecology of Salicornia europaea along the KaleShore river in Esfarayen

Abstract Background and purpose: Because of climate change, a Large part of the country's lands and waters are becoming saline, so it is very important to know the ecological aspects of halophyte species in the exploitation of water resources and saline lands. Salicornia spp. are annual coastal herbaceous plants and grow in colonies in salt marshes and seashores, especially in the mouths of rivers and waterways. Salicornia has a wide variety and distribution in many parts of the world, especially in Iran. Kal Shore River in the south of North Khorasan province is one of the areas where Salicornia plant grows with a spotted distribution pattern, and it has received less attention in scientific sources. This research was conducted in 2018 with the aim of investigating the ecology of the natural environment and the growth status of Salicornia in this region. Materials and method: The studied area located about 35 km east of Esfrain, along 5 km from the edge of Kal Shore river, which according to Dumarten's climate classification is part of dry areas with an average rainfall of 186 mm and average, minimum and maximum temperatures of 15.4-17.6 and 42.3 degrees Celsius, the average relative humidity is 46% and the average evaporation and transpiration is 2400 mm. The measured components include determining associated species, water and soil salinity changes during the growing season, physical and chemical analysis of water and soil during the flowering stage of salicornia, recording the phenology stages of salicornia, determining the amount of absorption of elements and the quality of fodder, and measuring production. Wet and dry mass in one square meter plot was at the time of salicornia flowering. Result According to the meteorological statistics, the amount of precipitation in the area of ​​Kal Shore in the year leading to the time of the study is 318 mm, which is twice the long-term average, and this condition has a positive effect on the establishment and growth of Salicornia. Based on the analysis, the soil sample of Salicornia habitat has silty loam texture, pH 7.7, chlorine, calcium, magnesium, and sodium levels are 1812, 54, 256, and 1550 meq/l, SAR 124, and salinity level, EC 84 to 175 dS/m. The salinity of Kal Shore water varies from the beginning of Salicornia germination (18 dS/m) to the ripening stage (110 dS/m) and has an increasing trend. The germination of Salicornia in the region is in late March, flowering is in late August to September, full ripening in November, seed shedding continues until December, and its growth period is about 8-9 months. Average dry matter was 2.8 and wet matter was 11.5 kg per square meter. The accompanying species of Salicornia are mainly bushes Halocnemum strobilaceum and Tamarix sp. Based on the dry matter analysis at the time of flowering, the average amount of elements in the plant sample is nitrogen 1%, phosphorus 0.15%, potassium 0.7%, magnesium 0.67%, calcium 0.42%, sodium 10.64%. , chlorine is 21.3% and in terms of fodder quality, crude fat is 1.55%, protein is 6.28%, and ash is 60.5%. Conclusion: Based on this study, Kal Shore Esfrain in the northeast of the country is introduced as one of the growing areas of Salicornia. The results showed that Salicornia can complete the phenological stages in very high water and soil salinity conditions and have a good biomass. Due to its high ash content, Salicornia fodder is limited for animal feeding and should be combined with other sources of fodder in animal feeding rations.From the point of view of protection and environment, in areas where it is not possible for other species to establish and grow in terms of high salinity, the role of Salicornia is very important in the stability and balance of the growth environment and carbon deposition by creating suitable vegetation and absorbing elements.