Investigation of Some Vegetative and Physiological Characteristic of Hammada salicornica Under Sand Burial

This study investigated the vegetative and physiological characteristics of Hammada salicornica Syn.: Haloxylon salicornicum under sand burial. Experiment conducted in completely randomised design with five replicates. One year-old seedlings of Hammada salicornica in the same size assigned to one of the following five burial treatments, control, buried to 33% of plant height, buried to 50% of plant height, buried to 75% of plant height and buried to complete plant height. After 6 months watering under glasshouse conditions, some of vegetative and physiological characteristics of Hammada salicornica were measured. Results showed the highest amounts of leave proline equal to 20.8 mg/gfw observed in 33% burial treatment. Root proline in all burial treatments were significantly more than two times compared to control. The root proline in 33% burial traetment was equal to 22.72 mg/gfw that was two times more than control. The amount of oxine significantly increased in 33% and 50% burial treatments compared to control. The amount of oxine in 33% burial treatment was equal to 0.64 mg/gfw that was two times more compared to the control. The amounts of stem sugar were deacreased in all burial treatment while heighest amounts of root sugar were measured in 33% burial treatment. Stem and root sodium, 22 meq/l, significantly increased in 33% and 50% compared to control and 75% burial treatment. The amount of root and stem potassium content in 75% of burial treatment was significantly lower than other burial treatment. The amounts of stem phosphorus, 0.73 meq/L, and root phosphorous, 1.9 meq/L, observed in 33 % of burial treatment. The amounts of root phosphorus significantly increased in all burial treatment compared to the control. Moreover, the stem hieght in 75% burial treatment, 40 cm, were more than two times compared to the control. The highest amount of stem and root dry and wet weight in 33 % of burial treatment was significantly more than other burial treatments. It is concluded that Hammada salicornica tolerate not only 33% of burial treatment but also the burial stimulates the growth.