PLANTS AS SOIL INDICATORS ALONG THE SAUDI COAST OF THE ARABIAN GULF

Soils of different vegetation types of the Saudi Arabian Gulf coast, d ominated by mangrove, salt marsh and desert plant communities have bee n analysed for their soil profiles, texture, salinity, pH, water conte nt and ionic concentration (Ca2+, Cl-, K+, Na+, SO42-). The results sh ow some important relationships between soils and plants. Special emph asis was given to the dominant intertidal plants Avicennia marina, Art hrocnemum macrostachyum, Salicornia europaea, Halocnemum strobilaceum, Halopeplis perfoliata, Limonium axillare, the terrestrial Zygophyllum qatarense, and non-vegetated sabkhas. (C) 1996 Academic Press Limited