Plants as soil indicators along the Saudi coast of the Arabian Gulf

Soils of different vegetation types of the Saudi Arabian Gulf coast, dominated by mangrove, salt marsh and desert plant communities have been analysed for their soil profiles, texture, salinity, pH, water content and ionic concentration (Ca2+, Cl−, K+, Na+, SO42−). The results show some important relationships between soils and plants. Special emphasis was given to the dominant intertidal plantsAvicennia marina, Arthrocnemum macrostachyum, Salicornia europaea, Halocnemum strobilaceum, Halopeplis perfoliata, Limonium axillare, the terrestrialZygophyllum qatarense, and non-vegetated sabkhas