干旱区生态环境知识资源中心

The roots and leaves of the halophytic plant Zygophyllum qatarense Hadidi from saline and non-saline habitats in Bahrain island were analysed for their ash content during four seasons: winter, spring, summer and fall. Ash content of leaves was higher than that in the roots from the two habitats. Statistical analyses of the results showed significant seasonal differences in the ash content in both roots and leaves in each of the two habitats. Comparison between the ash content of leaves from the two habitats showed no significant difference between the averages for the leaves in all seasons except in the spring. Root comparisons showed significant differences between the two habitats in all seasons except in the fall. The results demonstrated that the change in soil salinity is reflected, at least in some seasons, in the ash content of Z. qatarense. The only significant difference in the ash content between the leaves of the two habitats was during spring. However, the only nonsignificant difference in the ash content between the roots of the two habitats was during the fall.