Department of Phytosalinity, Central Salt and Marine Chemical Research Institute, (CSIR) G.B. Marg, Bhavnagar-364 001, India.
*Correspondent address: Hash Biotech Pvt. Ltd. Hash group SCO-311 & 312, Sector-40 D, Chandigarh-160 036, E-mail: gohil.rajendrasinh@hashbiotech.com.
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Variation in soil properties and heavy metal content and their distribution along the tidal gradients of coastal saline mudflats, supporting natural vegetation of S. brachiata at seven different such sites in Gulf of Khambhat of Coastal Gujarat (Western India), were investigated. Concentration of organic carbon (OC gkg−1) was recorded high at Kotada site, while the pH and salinity remained more at Diu site. Fe, Mn, Ni and Zn were concentrated in sediment deposits in all Salicornia growing sites, thereby indicating restricted movement of metals due to the presence of Salicornia vegetation. Results also revealed that soil pH of highly saline mud flat supporting Salicornia plants had a negative correlation with most of the heavy metal elements. Under saline condition, all the heavy metals are found positive and Cu had significant and positive correlation with most of the elements.
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