The role of common iceplant (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum) in the deterioration of medic pastures

摘要: The presence of residues iceplant (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum) was found to significantly decrease the production a volunteer annual pasture in subsequent years. Iceplant gathers salt from throughout root zone even slightly saline soil and accumulates it aerial parts plant. Following senescence, rain leaches onto surface, which becomes so as inhibit growth most competing species, itself. It is suggested that leached top soil, can dominate by being able establish at higher levels salinity than potential competitors. accumulation not primarily halophytic mechanism but competitive strategy, allowing be facultative halophyte.