Salinity negatively influences crop growth, but several salt-tolerant plant species (halophytes) are viable crops. Sarcocornia fruticosa (ecotypes EL and VM) is currently cultivated, but there is demand for new crop candidates and higher biomass production. Salicornia brachiata Roxb. and Arthrocneum macrostachyum L. are considered novel crops, and to realize their potential, their response to salinity and nitrogen nutrition was compared to S. fruticosa ecotypes. Experiments revealed that higher N supplemented with lower NaCl significantly increased fresh and dry shoot biomass. Lower biomass was obtained at lower nitrogen supplemented with elevated NaCl, whereas total soluble solids content positively correlated with NaCl fertigation in both Sarcocornia ecotypes. Protein content increased with a lower nitrogen supply. Anthocyanins and oxygen radical absorbance capacity were highest in S. fruticosa EL and A. macrostachyum at higher NaCl supply. The results show that halophytes have a variety of strategies to cope with high NaCl, even between ecotypes of the same species. Notably, repetitive harvesting of S. brachiata delayed flowering enabling year-round biomass production. Additionally, S. brachiata accumulated higher biomass than Sarcocornia VM when grown in a greenhouse at higher radiation than in a growth room and strongly supports its inclusion as a cash-crop halophyte.

Halophyte bio-saline agriculture can supplement conventional farm methods in salinized soils and salty water. The current study compares the yield and nutritional value of new Sarcocornia fruticosa ecotypes (Shikmona, Megadim, Naaman, and Ruhama) to those of the current ecotype (VM). Additionally, Arthrocaulon macrostachyum, phenotypically similar to Sarcocornia, was compared to Sarcocornia ecotypes, and the effects of the harvesting regime and irrigation water salinity on yield and nutritional value were studied. At both salinity levels (50 and 150 mM NaCl), 30-day harvesting intervals over a 210-day growth period increased plant yield compared to a 21-day regime. It also tended to improve electrical conductivity (EC) and total soluble sugars (TSS), lower malondialdehyde levels (a marker of toxic stress), and enhance radical inhibition activity in most ecotypes. Compared to VM, the Sarcocornia ecotypes Ruh and Naa exhibited much higher biomass with similar radical inhibition activity but lower total protein content. Higher salinity improved fresh biomass, shoot diameter, relative water content, chlorophyll level, TSS, and EC and tended to increase anthocyanin and carotenoid levels. In contrast, lower salinity tended to increase total flavonoids, polyphenols, and radical inhibition activity. In the 30-day harvest regime, A. macrostachyum exhibited the highest and second-highest yields at high and low salinity, respectively; the highest shoot diameter, total flavonoids, and radical inhibition activity; and one of the lowest malondialdehyde levels. The current study highlights the importance of optimizing harvest frequency and the advantages of employing A. macrostachyum and the Sarcocornia ecotypes Ruhama, Naaman, and Megadim with a 30-day harvesting regime under higher-salinity conditions.

Salinity and drought are abiotic stresses that substantially impair growth, biomass production, and metabolic regulation. This study examined how irrigation frequency and salinity levels affect biomass production, physiological traits, and antioxidant responses in the halophytes Sarcocornia fruticosa (Megadim ecotype) and Arthrocaulon macrostachyum (AM). The plants were subjected to irrigation intervals of 2, 6, and 10 days and varying salinity levels: 50, 150, and 250 mM NaCl for Sarcocornia, and 150 and 250 mM NaCl for AM.,Frequent irrigation significantly increased both fresh and dry biomass across all salinities, with the highest biomass under high salinity and frequent irrigation in both halophytes. Moderate salinity (150 mM), combined with 6- and 10-day irrigation intervals, yielded higher production than at other salinity levels. AM showed strong antioxidant responses, with higher flavonoid, polyphenol, radical-scavenging activity (RSA), oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), and protein levels, particularly under a 6-day irrigation interval. In contrast, Sarcocornia exhibited greater RSA and ORAC levels under frequent irrigation at 150 and 250 mM NaCl, while flavonoids increased under 10-day irrigation at 50–150 mM; polyphenols, RSA, and ORAC peaked at 50 mM NaCl with 6-day irrigation.,Photosynthetic pigments, total soluble sugars, and electrical conductivity increased with irrigation every 10 days in both species, suggesting osmotic adjustment to drought. Conversely, anthocyanin, relative water content, and malondialdehyde levels peaked with more frequent irrigation. Overall, irrigation frequency significantly interacted with salinity to influence growth, osmotic adjustment, and antioxidant defense mechanisms in halophytes, highlighting their potential for sustainable cultivation in saline and water-limited environments.

The effects of postharvest storage delays of 1 and 2 hours on the nutritional quality of halophytic plants irrigated with 100 and 150 mM NaCl solutions were assessed. The study compared the new Sarcocornia fruticosa ecotypes Shikmona, Megadim, and Ruhama with the commonly cultivated VM and Arthrocaulon macrostachyum (AM). All new ecotypes outperformed the VM ecotype in terms of nutritional composition and yield. Except for Shikmona, the biomass of all ecotypes increased with elevated salinity; however, storage delays reduced water content, with a greater reduction under lower salinity. Storage delays in Sarcocornia significantly enhanced total polyphenols, flavonoids, carotenoids, anthocyanins, and radical-scavenging activity compared with levels in the plant contents immediately after harvesting.,In contrast, AM showed declines in antioxidants, except for anthocyanins and carotenoids, after 1- and 2-hour delays. Both storage delays increased total soluble sugars, electrical conductivity, and malondialdehyde in AM and the Sarcocornia ecotypes. Further carotenoid enhancement in AM was observed in the 2-hour storage-delay treatment, followed by 21 days of storage, compared with the control stored immediately for 21 days.,Across Sarcocornia ecotypes, storage delay is associated with increased levels of polyphenols, flavonoids, and carotenoids, as well as enhanced radical-scavenging activity. In contrast, AM showed decreased total flavonoids, polyphenols, and radical scavenging activity after a 2-hour storage delay, followed by 21 days of cold room storage, compared to 21 days of storage without a delay. Yet, its antioxidant content remained higher than that of the Sarcocornia ecotypes in both the non-delayed control and the 2-hour storage-delay treatments.

Halophyte bio-saline agriculture augments conventional farm methods in salinized soils and salty water. The current study tests the yield and nutritional value of new Sarcocornia fruticosa ecotypes (Shik, Meg, Naa, and Ruh) compared to the current ecotype (VM). Additionally, Arthrocnemum macrostachyum (AM), phenotypically similar to Sarcocornia, was compared to Sarcocornia ecotypes, and the role of the harvesting regime and irrigation water salinity on yield and its nutritional value was studied. 30-day harvesting over a 210-day growth increased plant yield compared to 21-day harvesting at both salinity levels (50 and 150 mM NaCl). It also tended to improve electrical conductivity (EC) and total soluble sugars (TSS), lower the toxic stress marker malondialdehyde levels, and enhance radical inhibition activity in most ecotypes. Compared to VM, the other Sarcocornia ecotypes, Ruh and Naa, exhibited much higher biomass with similar radical inhibition activity but lower total protein content. Higher salinity improved fresh biomass, shoot diameter, relative water content, chlorophyll level, TSS, EC, and tended to increase anthocyanin and carotenoid levels. In contrast, the lower salinity tended to increase total flavonoid, polyphenol, and radical inhibition activity. At the 30-day harvest regime, AM exhibited the highest and 2nd highest yields at the high and low salinity, respectively, and the highest shoot diameter, total flavonoids, radical inhibition activity, and among the lowest malondialdehyde levels. The current study highlights the importance of optimizing harvest frequency and the advantages of employing AM and the Sarcocornia ecotypes Ruh, Naa, and Meg at a 30-day harvesting regime under higher saline conditions.