The Relationship between Soil Water Potential and Plant Water Potential in Two Inland Halophytes Under Field Conditions

Abstract

Field investigations were carried out to determine the relationship between soil water and plant water potentials for two halophytic species. Salicornia europaea, a halophyte with succulent stems, grew on the most saline sites with soil water potentials averaging -37.8 ± 4.0 bars, ranging from -16.0 bars to -100.0 bars. Atriplex triangularis grew in less saline locations with soil water potentials averaging -29.3 ± 5.1 bars, ranging from -2.7 bars to -50.7 bars. Shoot water potentials of S. europaea were low, -65.3 bars, even when plants grew under moderately saline conditions, -16.0 bars, whereas in A. triangularis there was a highly significant correlation, r = .90, between decreasing soil water potentials and decreasing leaf water potentials.