Initial selection of plant species for ecological restoration in salinized soil in Datong Basin.

Soil salinization is one of the major causes of ecological deterioration in the Datong Basin, Shanxi Province. We analyzed the soil salinization in the Datong Basin and investigated the cultivation of salt-tolerant plant species and their tolerant capacity .The results showed that the climate of the Datong Basin is cold, dry and windy; soil salinization is very serious and vegetation is sparse. Fifteen species were first selected for the cultivation experiment in salinized soil; the survival rate of the first six species decreased in order as follows: Lycium chinense, Populus alba var.pyramidali, Tamarix chinensis, Ulmus pumil, Elaeagnus angustifolia and Salix matsudana. Further, six local species were selected to study the effect of salinity stress on their morphological characteristics, photosynthetic rate, stomatal resistance, transpiration rate, intercellular CO2 concentration and the cell membrane permeability. Comprehensive evaluation showed that the salinity tolerance decreased in the order of Tamarix chinensisLycium chinensePinus sylvestris var.mongolicaJuniperus rigidaUlmus pumilaPopulus alba var.pyramidali.