Aboveground, belowground biomass and nutrients pool in Salicornia brachiata at coastal area of India: interactive effects of soil characteristics

The present study determined the plant biomass (aboveground and belowground) of Salicornia brachiata from six different salt marshes distributed in Indian coastal area over one growing season (September 2014–May 2015). The nutrients concentration and their pools were estimated in plant as well as soil. Belowground biomass in S. brachiata was usually lower than the aboveground biomass. Averaged over different locations, highest biomass was observed in the month of March (2.1 t ha⁻¹) followed by May (1.64 t ha⁻¹), February (1.60 t ha⁻¹), November (0.82 t ha⁻¹) and September (0.05 t ha⁻¹). The averaged aboveground to belowground ratio was 12.0. Aboveground and belowground biomass were negatively correlated with pH of soil, while positively with soil electrical conductivity. Further, there were positive relationships between organic carbon and belowground biomass; and available sodium and aboveground biomass. The nutrient pools in aboveground were always higher than to belowground biomass. Aboveground pools of carbon (543 kg ha⁻¹), nitrogen (48 kg ha⁻¹), phosphorus (4 kg ha⁻¹), sodium (334 kg ha⁻¹) and potassium (37 kg ha⁻¹) were maximum in the month of March 2015. Bioaccumulation and translocation factors for sodium of S. brachiata were more than one showing tolerance to salinity and capability of phytoremediation for the saline soil.