Natural habitat of Salicornia
Salicornia germinates directly on soil and high salinity (up to about 1000 mM sodium chloride) due to its unique properties due to its high salinity resistance (up to 1000 mL of sodium chloride) And Mexico has arrived. This plant grows naturally on the shores of the sea and on the shores of saline lagoons. This plant grows in areas that are swampy and salty, such as Lake Urmia, Qom, Gavkhoni swamp, the coasts of the Persian Gulf to the Sea of Oman, South Khorasan, East Azerbaijan, Khuzestan and part of Gorgan. In fact, the distribution of this plant is in saline and swampy areas.
Growth conditions and yield of salicornia
Generally in temperate regions, annual specimens of the plant begin their growth and development from early April, require 100 days of cool air for flowering, and bloom almost in early autumn. The approximate weight of the seeds produced per plant is about one milligram, and the seeds can germinate directly in seawater, but their germination rate is much higher in fresh water. Some researchers believe that salicornia seeds on the parent plant can also germinate. The best temperature for seed germination is 25 degrees Celsius during the day and 5 degrees Celsius at night.
Applications of salicornia
Research is underway to cultivate and exploit plant species that can withstand adverse environmental conditions. Studies on saline plants in order to evaluate their utilization in the field of forage production, biofuels, human nutrition and edible oil production show the high value of these plant species in resolving the crisis.
Salicornia food consumption
Salicornia is known by various names such as fennel, sea beans, sea asparagus, etc., and in fact the name Salicornia is derived from the Latin word Salt in the sense of salt.
Cultivation method of salicornia
Due to the fact that salicornia is cultivated in different climatic conditions, at each stage of the work according to the conditions of the region (latitude and longitude, altitude, topography, soil and water characteristics, etc.) by a specific method Used to that area.
Therefore, cultivation takes place in the salt marshes of the coastal strip of the south of the country, where water resources are temporary during the growing season and at a temperature of about 65 ° C on the surface of the earth. Which is completely different from the conditions of Salicornia farm located on the shores of Lake Urmia with a distinct rainfall pattern and a temperature of about -20 degrees Celsius in winter.
In short, the cultivation of Salicornia does not follow a specific method and pattern and has a lot of flexibility, which, although slightly changed in various factors, increases or decreases the yield.
Cultivations of salicornia
Salicornia can be planted directly by seed or by seedling.
Direct sowing of seeds: To sow the seeds of this plant in one hectare, 3 to 5 kg of seeds are needed, which is determined according to the percentage of seed germination. This amount can vary depending on the degree of purity of the seed, seed vigor and the method of sowing the seeds, and in some sources up to 10 to 15 kg per hectare has been reported.
