To better understand the influence of Tamarix spp. on soil fertility and salinity and the implication for saline soil management in northwestern China, Dr. Yin Chuanhua, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, CAS, investigated the soil physical and chemical properties beneath Tamarix canopies from the upper, middle, and lower regions of the Taklimakan Desert’s alluvial plain. Meanwhile, the enrichment ratios for soil nutrients and salinity were used to evaluate fertile and saline islands in Tamarix mounds.

 He found that Tamarix may be beneficial to vegetation restoration and improving utilization of saline land. Nevertheless, soil salinity and pH increased under Tamarix canopy, especially EC and K⁺ in surface soil from the middle alluvial plain. The EC enrichment ratio was highest in the middle alluvial plain and, depending on soil depth, lowest in the upper and lower alluvial plain which reflected negative effects of Tamarix on soil chemical properties.

The results had been published on Agricultural Water Management (doi: 10.1016/j.agwat.2009.02.013).