Determination of Sodium Chloride in the Plant Species of Frankenia hirsuta L. in the Saline and Alkaline Rangelands of Golestan Province (A Case Study of Inche-Shorezar Rangeland)

The study of the relationships of the plant species with the soil in a salty ecosystem would play a significant role in the ecologic programming and management of these inhabitants. The saline and alkaline rangelands of the Golestan province are areas that contain salty soil with high underground crusts. The areas are covered by halophyte plants such as Frankenia hirsuta. This species is a perennial plant from the Frankeniaceae family. They could absorb salt from soil and store it in their organs in order to reduce soil saltiness and restore slat of lands. Thus, in order to determine the percentage of sodium chloride of such species, sampling was taken in the flowering stage from two exclosure and grazing areas by six replications. Then, the percentage of Sodium Chloride (NaC1) was measured in the lab using the titration method. The statistical analyses and the comparisons of the means of the collected data were made by the use of T-test. The results showed significant difference for NaC1% of the phytomass of the species (P≤0.01). The average value of NaC1 was 2.13% and 1.37% for the exclosure and grazing area, respectively. In the other word, the highest and lowest values of NaC1% were obtained for exclosure and the grazing area, respectively. It was concluded that Frankenia hirsuta can take in the soil salt and by gathering or grazing, it could led to reduction of soil saltiness.