Cultivation of the Saksaul (Haloxylon aphyllum Minkw.) seedlings in the plant nurseries of the Aral Sea region

Abstract

The drained bottom of the Aral Sea is a planetary problem, as millions of tons of harmful salts, dust and sand are removed from it, which settle on plants and have damaged ecosystems and biodiversity of the Aral Sea region. Methods and technologies have been developed for forest reclamation of the drained bottom, but for their practical implementation, seeds for sowing and planting material for planting are needed, which will fix the drained bottom and prevent the removal of salt, dust, and sand. The air will be cleaner also decrease sickness. But to fix the drained bottom, it is necessary to have standard planting material, which is not enough in the nurseries of this region. Growing seedlings according to the old technology without using innovative methods does not allow obtaining standard planting material in the required quantity. In our experiment, we practiced a universal liquid organic mineral fertilizer produced in Slovakia “Rokohumin”. Treatment of seedlings at the nursery of Takhtakupyrskiy forestry with rokohumin allowed increasing the total yield of seedlings of Haloxylon aphyllum (Minkw.) at the end of the growing season by 27%, Ceratoideslatens J.F. (Gmel) by 16.4%, Salsola orientalis S.G.Gmel. by 16.2% and Salsola arbuskula Pall. by 11.4%. At the same time, the yield of standard seedlings increased in Haloxylon aphyllum (Minkw.) by 12.7%, Ceratoideslatens J.F. (Gmel) by 14.2%, Salsola orientalis S.G.Gmel. by 17.6% and Salsola arbuskula Pall. by 9.0%.