Vegetation of Saline Areas in Saskatchewan

Abstract

The vegetation of uncultivated saline soils in the grassland zone of Saskatchewan was examined at 270 sites; in each from two to eight plant communities were recognized. Saline Gleysol soil surrounding the permanently flooded center of depressions is occupied by amphibious species, particularly Scripus paludosus. With decreasing salinity from the wet center to the dry margin of depressions a sequence of vegetation types occurs which are characterized by dominance of Salicornia rubra on Saline Gleyed Regosol soil, Triglochin maritima, Puccinellia airoides, Distlichlis stricta, and Hordeum jubatum on Saline Meadow soil, and Sarcobatus vermiculatus, Muhlenbergia richardsonis, and Agropyron spp. on Saline Calcareous Chernozem soil. Saline Rego Chernozem soil occupies the transition to upland and supports a mixture of upland and salt—tolerant species.