Zilte landbouw Texel : een voorbeeld transitieproject 2006-2010 : eindrapport

Het project Zilte Landbouw Texel is in mei 2006 van start gegaan op het perceel nabij ‘De Petten’ op Texel. Er is gekozen om een Zilte Proeftuin aan te leggen op een nabij gelegen perceel waar gedurende twee jaar ongeveer twintig verschillende potentiële zilte gewassen zijn onderzocht op hun groei onder zoute condities en hun marktpotentie. De focus van de werkzaamheden op Texel van de Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam was gericht op Zeekool, Strandbiet, Hertshoornweegbree, Monniksbaard, Reukloze kamille en Wilde Rucola. Daarnaast heeft een langdurig onderzoek plaatsgevonden op de Afsluitdijk wat als referentie heeft gediend voor de natuurlijke groei van halofieten. In de kassen van VU zijn meerdere groei-experimenten onder gecontroleerde omstandigheden uitgevoerd, welke gebruikt zijn om de teelt van de verschillende gewassen op Texel verder te ontwikkelen. De teelt van vooral Zeekool, Zilte Rucola en Strandbiet is met succes opgeschaald en de producten zijn afgezet op de (lokale) markt. Door onder andere de promotie via verschillende kanalen en de unieke smaak van de zilte groenten is een vraag ontstaan naar de zilte gewassen die in veel gevallen het aanbod overtrof

Developing and testing new halophyte crops: A case study of salt tolerance of two species of the Brassicaceae, Diplotaxis tenuifolia and Cochlearia officinalis

Diplotaxis tenuifolia (L.) and Cochlearia officinalis (L.) were presumed to be salt tolerant with potential as vegetable halophyte crops. The response to increasing salinity was analysed by means of the relative growth rate (RGR) and its components and mineral composition. No growth reductions occurred up to 100mM NaCl for D. tenuifolia, whereas C. officinalis showed a 37% decrease in total dry weight at this concentration of NaCl, corresponding to a 9% decrease in RGR. The RGR at higher salinity levels (≥200mM NaCl) showed reductions around 20% for both species, largely due to changes of leaf morphology (decrease in specific leaf area, increase in leaf succulence) rather than toxic leaf N

Effects of increased seawater salinity irrigation on growth and quality of the edible halophyte Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L. under field conditions

Saline agriculture may answer to the declining availability of fresh water and to the worldwide expanding area of salinized soils by exploiting seawater and salt-affected soils for sustainable food production. Potential salt tolerant crops can be found among edible halophytes. Moreover, plants growing in saline environments are often associated with an enhanced endogenous concentrations of high-nutrient compounds. Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L. provides an interesting perspective in becoming a salt-tolerant and high-value crop at saline conditions, but has never been tested at representative agricultural conditions. This study aimed at assessing the effects of increasing levels of seawater salinity irrigation (electrical conductivity: 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, and 35 dS m−1) on growth and productive performance in a field experiment. Also, impacts of salinity on the functional value of edible leaves were evaluated by investigating the mineral elements, carotenoids, soluble sugars, and phenolic concentrations, along with antioxidant activity. Our results demonstrate that none of the salinity treatments negatively affected M. crystallinum biomass production. Furthermore, increased salinity extended the vegetative stage, leading to one extra month of harvest compared to non-saline conditions. Juvenile edible leaves' biomass, succulence and calcium concentrations even increased with increasing salinity. No differences were assessed in the phenolics concentration and antioxidant activity of high salinity treatments plants compared to the control. This paper demonstrates the perspective to cultivate M. crystallinum in saline agriculture, up to EC of 20–35 dS m−1, or perhaps even higher, since we did not identify a threshold of biomass reduction. Only the Na+ concentration in the edible leaves could constitute a health concern or allow it acting as a natural salt substitute. This excellent performance in combination with the appreciated taste and its glistening appearance, may pave the way for use of the ice plant as high-value saline crop