干旱区生态环境知识资源中心

We conducted a phyto-ecological analysis of the Sebkha Djendli located in the semi-arid lands of the north-eastern Algeria in order to contribute in the understanding of flora composition, diversity and factors controlling plant zonation. Eight plots, distributed on the cardinal and intercardinal points of the site, were sampled. A floristic analysis (species richness, life forms, spatial occurrence, plant cover rate and similarity) and an assessment of the effect of soil salinity and pH on the cover of dominant halophytes were performed. The results of the floristic approach showed the presence of 51 species belonging to 21 families and 45 genera. The most frequent biological types were therophytes (58%) followed by chamaephytes (18%). Vegetation cover rate ranged from 50% to 95%. The distribution of vegetation all around the edges of the Sabkha revealed the dominance of halophytic species belonging to the family Chenopodiaceae. The variation of total halophytic vegetation cover over all sampled plots seems to be affected neither by the distance from waterbody nor by plot orientation nor by the electrical conductivity and pH of soil.