Halophytes: Ecological features, global resources, and outlook for multipurpose use

Abstract

Halophytes (galos, salt; phyton, a plant) are ecologically, physiologically, and biochemically specialized plants, which belong to various systemic and life forms capable of finishing their life cycle in a saline habitat (the soil solution’s electrical conductivity is 8–10 dS/m). Halophyte resources are an important source and reserve of the sustainable development of agriculture in arid parts of the world, including Russia. The importance of the world’s halophyte resources is shown for obtaining fodder, grass forage, and medicinal and oil raw materials, as well as biological agents for reclaiming degraded lands, especially in arid regions, where dire shortages of food are observable. Research results of introducing halophytes in crops as forage, oil, and medicinal plants in the conditions of irrigated and nonirrigated farming in arid regions of Central Asia and Russia are given. Prospects for the multipurpose use of halophytes in the sustainable development of viable agriculture are substantiated.