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Saline soils

Soils with a high concentration of soluble salts.

Salinity stress

A condition where high salt concentrations negatively impact plant growth.

Sodic soil

A soil type where sodium makes up a high percentage of the cations.

Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR)

A measure used to classify sodic soils, expressed relative to calcium and magnesium levels.

Osmotic stress

Stress caused by salts affecting a plant's ability to take up water.

Electrical conductivity (ECe)

A measurement used to determine if a soil is saline, with levels above 4 dS/m indicating salinity.

Halophytes

Plants that thrive in salty environments.

Primary salinity

Natural salinity occurring in coastal areas and areas of naturally saline parent rock.

Ionic imbalance stress

Stress resulting from the accumulation of undesirable ions, particularly sodium, in plant cells.

Algal blooms

Rapid growth of algae in water bodies, often resulting from nutrient runoff.

Transpiration

The process of water movement through a plant and its evaporation from aerial parts.

Oxidative stress

Cell and tissue damage resulting from increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS).

Compatible solutes

Solutes that help stabilize macromolecules in cells without disrupting cell metabolism.

Sequestration

The process of isolating or storing excess toxic ions in vacuoles or cell walls.

Eustress

Positive stress that can promote growth and adaptation in plants.

Crop-pasture rotations

Agricultural practice involving alternating between cropping and pasture to manage salinity.

Glycophytes

Plants that are sensitive to salty conditions, as opposed to halophytes.

Ion-specific effect

Effects of salinity that require salt to be taken up by plants.

Leaf abscission

The process when leaves die and fall off, often as a strategy to manage salt levels.

Osmotic adjustment

The process plants use to adjust their internal osmotic pressure to favor water uptake.

Nutrient leaching

The process by which nutrients are washed away from the soil, which can be a consequence of excessive irrigation.

Vegetation cover

Plant cover that helps maintain soil balance and reduces salinity risk.

Desalination

The process of removing salt from water or soil to improve conditions for growth.

Evapotranspiration

The sum of evaporation and plant transpiration from the Earth's surface to the atmosphere.

Turgor pressure

The pressure exerted by fluid in plant cells that helps maintain cell rigidity.

ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species)

Highly reactive molecules that can cause damage to cells, often produced under stress conditions.

Photosynthesis stress

Stress that disrupts a plant's ability to carry out photosynthesis effectively.

Annual plants

Plants that complete their lifecycle in one year and may be more sensitive to salinity.

Allocation strategy

The method by which plants distribute resources to different tasks, such as growth or salt tolerance.

Soil improvement

Techniques and practices aimed at enhancing soil quality and health.

Salinity gradient

The variation of salinity levels within a particular environment, impacting plant distribution.

Olivine weathering

A natural process that can help reduce soil salinity by altering mineral compositions.