Crop Species Mechanisms and Ecosystem Services for Sustainable Forage Cropping Systems in Salt-Affected Arid Regions
Dennis S. Ashilenje, Erick Amombo, Abdelaziz Hirich, Lamfeddal Kouisni, Krishna Prasad Devkota, Ayoub El Mouttaqi, Abdelaziz Nilahyane
Abstract
Soil salinity limits crop productivity in arid regions and it can be alleviated by crop synergies. A multivariate analysis of published data ( n = 78) from arid and semiarid habitats across continents was conducted to determine the crop species mechanisms of salinity tolerance and synergies relevant for designing adapted forage cropping systems. Halophyte [ Cynodon plectostachus (K. Schum.) Pilg.] and non-halophyte grasses ( Lolium perenne L. and Panicum maximum Jacq.) clustered along increasing soil salinity. Halophytic grasses [ Panicum antidotale Retz. and Dicanthum annulatum (Forssk.) Stapf] congregated with Medicago sativa L., a non-halophytic legume along a gradient of increasing photosynthesis. Halophytic grasses [ Sporobolus spicatus (Vahl) Kunth, and Cynodon plectostachyus (K. Schum.) Pilg.] had strong yield-salinity correlations. Medicago sativa L. and Leptochloa fusca L. Kunth were ubiquitous in their forage biomass production along a continuum of medium to high salinity. Forage crude protein was strongly correlated with increasing salinity in halophytic grasses and non-halophytic legumes. Halophytes were identified with mechanisms to neutralize the soil sodium accumulation and forage productivity along an increasing salinity. Overall, halophytes-non-halophytes, grass-forbs, annual-perennials, and plant-bacteria-fungi synergies were identified which can potentially form cropping systems that can ameliorate saline soils and sustain forage productivity in salt-affected arid regions.