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Imprint
Phytoremediation of salt-affected greenhouse soils using halophytes
Project
Project code: EIP-Agri-NRW-2017-PGDB01, REFORDAT-433
Contract period: 01.01.2017
- 31.12.2019
Budget: 426,166 Euro
Purpose of research: Applied research
Keywords: plant production and horticulture, fertilisation, soil
Due to the arid conditions soils under long term cultivation in greenhouses are prone to salinization. Halophytes are plants that are well adapted to high salt concentrations in soils. By including salts in their biomass many species are able to decrease the salt content of soil, which has been demonstrated in many scientific publications. Until today there is no concept to use this ability of halophytes for organic greenhouse production. In the project two strategies for desalinization with halophytes are investigated. Selected species are tested as a green manure or as companion plants for tomatoes or peppers. In both strategies the biomass of the halophytes is transferred out of the greenhouse and is used as animal fodder, compost or as a vegetable itself. The effects of the different strategies and species are validated by measuring the salt content of plants and soil. By using available data from literature a tool to evaluate the trends of salinization due to different cultivation and management methods is developed. The results of the tool are validated in field trials. Based on the results advice can be provided for organic greenhouse production.
Section overview
Subjects
- Horticulture
- Resource management
- Climate Change
Funding programme
Excutive institution
Agriculture of North Rhine-Westphalia - Horticultural Center, Cologne, Auweiler
