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Halophytes have been considered as potential crops for irrigated production with brackish water or seawater. This study was conducted to obtain quantitative information on salt tolerance, water use and salt uptake responses of four halophytes: Atriplex nummularia Lindl., Distichlis palmeri Fassett, Batis maritima L., and Suaeda esteroa Ferron & Whitmore. Outdoor lysimeter experiments were conducted during the summer of 1991 and again during the spring of 1992 in the subtropic coastal desert of Sonora, Mexico. The plants were grown at an average leaching fraction of approximately 0.3 with diluted or concentrated seawater having salinity levels of 1.2, 10, 20, 40, and 60 g l(-1). Results indicate that these halophyte species can be grown productively at a leaching fraction of 0.30 or less when salinity of the irrigation water is less than 10 g l(-1). At higher salinities, frequent irrigation at higher leaching fractions may be required for these species. (C) 1996 Academic Press Limited