Growth performance of various population of salt cedar in saline-alkaline soils

Salt cedar (Tamarix aphylla L. or Tamarix articulata Vahl.) is a rapid growth and salt tolerance species which has been considered as suitable tree for wood production in arid and semi-arid lands of southern Iran in addition to its common usages in desertification and sand fixation programs. In order to study the possibility of development of this tree in saline-alkaline soils of Iran central desert boundaries, this research was carried out on 6 different population of salt cedar from Sistan va Balouchestan (Khash and Zahak townships), Yazd (Yazd township), Qom (Qom township), Isfahan (Kashan township) and Semnan (Garmsar township) provinces at Garmsar research station of desert in CRBD experimental design. Inventory of seedlings was carried out at beginning and end of 2012 and consisted of sprouting, Survival, number of sprouts, collar diameter of thickest sprout, height and crown vitality parameters. Results showed that in contrast with partial advantages of Garmsar and Qom population, there was no significant difference between populations and all of them showed moderate performance. Considering seedlings growth and survival we can conclude that plantation of this tree as suitable species for wood production in saline-alkaline soils of Iran central desert boundaries is possible and in this framework native populations in this region have more priority.