CC BY
0UDC 633.203.26 /29
UTILIZING HALOPHYTES: A SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION FOR EROSION-AFFECTED SALINE LANDS
LEILA BATYROVNA YELEUOVA
Senior lecturer, S.Seifullin Kazakh Agrotechnical Research University,
Astana, Kazakhstan
AZAT ERNAZULY AMANGELDI
1st year student, S.Seifullin Kazakh Agrotechnical Research University,
Astana, Kazakhstan
Аннотация: Эта статья в основном сосредоточена на территориях, подвергшихся эрозии и, вследствие этого, непригодных для выращивания любой растительности. Галофиты, также известные как растения, способные расти в соленой среде, являются нашим решением для таких территорий. Основная цель статьи - представить результаты исследований филиала КазАТИУ им. С. Сейфуллина в этой области.
Засоление почв остается одной из наиболее актуальных проблем в Казахстане и по сей день. В Республике Казахстан эта проблема сохраняется из-за активного прогресса засоления почв, вызванного природными условиями, такими как засушливый климат, равнинные орошаемые земли и слабая система дренажа. В четырех регионах Южного Казахстана, где сосредоточены орошаемые земли, более 55% территории в той или иной степени засолены. Эта проблема приводит к неэффективному использованию земель и продолжающейся эрозии почв на засоленных участках. Согласно данным, около 20% орошаемых земель подвергаются засолению, что влечет за собой экономические убытки. Учитывая огромные аридные и семиаридные зоны Казахстана, проблема засоления становится особенно актуальной. Это в значительной степени связано с нерациональным использованием водных ресурсов, неэффективными методами ведения сельского хозяйства и плохим управлением почвами. В данной работе мы изучаем растения, способные расти на засоленных почвах, и методы рекультивации земель, акцентируя внимание на потенциале галофитов. Этот тип растений может позволить другим культурам расти на засоленных почвах, что, в свою очередь, повысит сельскохозяйственную продуктивность и позволит полностью использовать почвенный потенциал Казахстана.
Засоление почв происходит из-за высокого содержания различных соединений, включая натрий, калий, кальций, магний, сульфаты, хлориды, карбонаты и бикарбонаты. В зависимости от присутствующих соединений засоленные почвы классифицируются на солевые, содовые и солево-содовые типы.
Ключевые слова: засоление почвы, засушливый климат, орошаемые земли, галофиты, эрозия почвы, сельскохозяйственная продуктивность, солестойкие культуры, засоленные почвы, классификация засоления, потенциал почвы.
Annotation: This article focuses mainly on territories which has influenced by erosion, and due to this, unsuitable to grow any vegetation. Halophytes, also known as plants, which can grow in saline environment are our solution under these territories. Articles main point - to show results of research S.Seifullin'sKATRUbranch in this category.
Soil salinization remains one of the most pressing issues in Kazakhstan to this day. In the Republic of Kazakhstan, this problem persists due to the active progression of soil salinization caused by natural conditions such as an arid climate, flat irrigated lands, andpoor drainage systems. In four regions of southern Kazakhstan, where irrigated lands are concentrated, more than 55% of the area is salinized to some extent. This issue leads to inefficient land use and ongoing soil erosion on salinized lands. According to data, around 20% of irrigated lands are affected by salinization,
resulting in economic setbacks. Given Kazakhstan's vast arid and semi-arid zones, the problem of salinization is particularly relevant. This is largely due to the irrational use of water resources, inefficient agricultural practices, and poor soil management. Therefore, in this paper, we explore plants capable of growing in salinized soils and methods of land reclamation, focusing on the potential of halophytes. This type of plant can enable other crops to grow on salinized soils, which, in turn, will boost agricultural productivity and allow the full utilization of soil potential in Kazakhstan.
Soil salinization occurs due to high concentrations of various compounds, including sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulfates, chlorides, carbonates, and bicarbonates. Depending on the compounds present, saline soils are classified into saline, sodic, and saline-sodic types.
Key words: Soil salinization, arid climate, Irrigated lands, halophytes, soil erosion, agricultural productivity, salt-tolerant crops, salinized soils, salt classification, soil potential.
Soil salinization in Kazakhstan is caused by a combination of natural and anthropogenic factors, which include climatic conditions, geological features, irrigation patterns, and human activities.
Salinization occurs in two types: primary (natural) and secondary. Primary salinization can occur due to both an arid climate and an excess of water in the soil, which leads to the crystallization of salts as a result of evaporation on the soil surface. Salinized soils are unsuitable for cultivation because, due to osmotic pressure caused by salinization, plants cannot absorb salts, as the principle of osmosis is based on the movement of water from areas of lower concentration to higher concentration. Plants absorb moisture through osmosis, which occurs when water flows from areas with high salt concentration to areas with lower concentration. High salt concentration results in negative osmotic potential, making salinized soils unsuitable for growing agricultural crops. Consequently, plants suffer. In addition to the inability to absorb moisture, plants lose the ability to take in other beneficial ions and nitrogen, which increases the likelihood of diseases and plant degradation, further worsening their condition.
Driving forces for natural soil salinity and alkalinity are climate, rock weathering, ion exchange, and mineral equilibria reactions that ultimately control the chemical composition of soil and water. The major weathering reactions that produce soluble ions are tabled. Where evapotranspiration is greater than precipitation, downward water movement is insufficient to leach solutes out of the soil profile and salts can precipitate.
Figure 1. The mean content of cations and anions of soluble salts in 3 soil horizons of studied
soils:
Distribution of Salinized Soils in Kazakhstan [1].
1. Aral Sea Region: This area experiences high levels of soil salinization due to the desiccation of the Aral Sea, which has caused a rise in groundwater levels and increased salt deposition.
2. Southern Kazakhstan: Regions such as Turkestan and Zhambyl have widespread salinized soils, primarily due to inefficient irrigation practices and poor water management systems.
3. Western Kazakhstan: The Caspian Lowland is naturally salinized because of its proximity to the Caspian Sea, combined with low-lying topography and inadequate drainage systems.
4. Northern and Central Kazakhstan: Some salinized soils are also found in steppe zones due to natural factors like low precipitation and high evaporation rates, contributing to salt accumulation.
5. Eastern Kazakhstan: Although less affected, localized salinization occurs in valleys and areas with poor drainage or excessive use of saline water for irrigation [2].
Figure 2. Maktaaral district's soil salination as evidence [3].
Mainly, a series of studies have demonstrated that wheat and other cereal crops can be successfully cultivated in saline environments, particularly in conditions with a NaCl concentration of up to 3%. These findings indicate the adaptability of certain crops to saline soils, which is of significant importance for regions with widespread soil salinization. The ability of these crops to grow under such conditions opens up new possibilities for the effective use of halophytes as a biological tool for the reclamation and productive utilization of salinized soils in Kazakhstan. Given the prevalence of salinized lands in the country, particularly in arid and semi-arid zones, these results provide a promising foundation for developing salt-tolerant agricultural systems. Integrating such approaches could significantly enhance agricultural productivity and ensure more sustainable land use in affected regions.
Figure 3. The research conducted by S. Seifullin Kazakh Agrotechnical Research University and LLP "Bio-KATRU". Cropes cultivated under NACI3% environment.
WLii1
4
(С .i*-9*» j f 1
7/i vk
Figure 4. Microbial organism under NACI 5% saline environment.
Drought and salinity stress are the main problems of whole world that cause decrease in agricultural production [4].
Some of the halophytes traditionally gathered from nature for different purposes, like food, animal feed, drug production, cosmetics and industrial crude material. These halophytes and their relatives can be evaluated as agricultural crops [5].
This indicates that utilizing halophytes as green manure or as a food source for the broader population offers a dual benefit: improving soil quality and addressing the pervasive issue of soil salinization. The incorporation of halophytes into agricultural systems can enhance soil fertility by adding organic matter and nutrients, thereby promoting better soil structure and water retention. Additionally, their ability to thrive in saline conditions makes them an effective tool for mitigating the adverse effects of salinity on arable land, providing a sustainable solution to increase agricultural productivity while preserving the long-term viability of affected soils.
REFERENCES
1. Malgorzata Suska-Malawska, Assem Vyrakhamanova, Marya Ibraeva, Maksat Poshanov, Marcin Sulwinski, Kristina Toderich and Monika M^trak. 2022. Spatial and In-Depth Distribution of Soil Salinity and Heavy Metals (Pb, Zn, Cd, Ni, Cu) in Arable Irrigated Soils in Southern Kazakhstan. 7-9.
2. Г.Т. Исанова, Ц. Абудувайли, Ж.У. Мамутов, А. А. Калдыбаев, Г.А. Сапаров, Т.А. Базарбаева. 2017. ОТРАСЛЕВЫЕ ПРОБЛЕМЫ ОСВОЕНИЯ ЗАСУШЛИВЫХ ЗЕМЕЛЬ. 23: 36-40.
3. Yongjian Duan, Long Ma, Jilili Abuduwaili, Wen Liu, Galymzhan Saparov and Zhassulan Smanov. 2022. Driving Factor Identification for the Spatial Distribution of Soil Salinity in the Irrigation Area of the Syr Darya River, Kazakhstan. 10-11.
4. Boyer, J. S. 1982. Plant productivity and environment. Science 218: 443-448.
5. Gallagher, J. L. 1985. Halophytic crops for cultivation at seawater salinity. Plant Soil 89: 323336.
