Short-term and diurnal patterns of salt secretion by Tamarix ramosissima and their relationships with climatic factors

Abstract

Tamarisk (Tamarix spp.) is an invasive shrub or tree species in the United States. Glands within Tamarix leaves secrete salt that may increase surface soil salinity and consequently result in an unviable ecosystem for native riparian tree species. To increase our understanding of the effects of invasive Tamarix on the ecosystem and its native riparian vegetation, we investigated salt secretion of a stand of Tamarix ramosissima in the Las Vegas Wash, Nevada. Short-term and diurnal salt secretion rates were monitored in the stand from September to October 2009. Soil samples were collected beneath the canopy so that water and salinity conditions could be determined. We used weather data from a Las Vegas database in conjunction with soil temperature data collected for this study. The major cation secreted by salt glands was sodium. Diurnal variation in the salt secretion rate had a maximum during the day, suggesting that salt secretion is dependent on salt transportation to leaves. Variations in the salt secretion rates were mostly influenced by solar radiation, suggesting that salt secretion in T. ramosissima would be enhanced by light in natural conditions.