Article

Soil salinity regulates metal bioavailability and soil–plant transfer in halophytic crops

Gulom BekmirzaevNational Research University, “Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization Engineers”Raxmontoy KurvantayevInstitute of Soil Science and Agrochemical ResearchKasimbek IsabaevNational Research University, “Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization Engineers”Абдурахим БердишевNational Research University, “Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization Engineers”Qosim RakhmonovNational Research University, “Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization Engineers”S IsaevNational Research University, “Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization Engineers”Sunnat TadjievNational Research University, “Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization Engineers”Umida ParpievaNational Research University, “Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization Engineers”Azam AzimovNational Research University, “Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization Engineers”Jakhongir KhamraqulovFergana State UniversitySanoatxon ZakirovaFergana State UniversityMuhabbat DiyorovaKarshi State UniversityElyor MalikovNational Research University, “Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization Engineers”Abbosbek AkhmadaliyevAndijan Institute of Agriculture and Agrotechnologies

Frontiers in Soil Sciencejournal2026en

ABI

Abstract

Introduction Soil salinity fundamentally reshapes geochemical controls governing metal mobility and plant uptake, yet its effects across soils with different salinity histories remain poorly resolved. Methods We conducted four controlled experiments using NaCl treatments ranging from 1.0 to 20.0 dS m −1 , combining freshly salinized soils with soils previously exposed to salinity, and evaluated metal behavior in soil -plant systems of Tetragonia tetragonioides and Portulaca oleracea . Results Increasing salinity reduced the solubility and CaCl 2 -extractable (bioavailable) fractions of Fe, Zn, Ba, Sr, and Cu, while total soil metal pools remained largely unaffected, indicating ionic competition, chloride complexation, and ionic-strength -driven shifts in metal partitioning. These patterns show that the observed reductions primarily involve bioavailable metal fractions rather than changes in total soil metal concentrations. Discussion Our findings indicate that especially long-standing soil salinity acts as an important regulator of metal bioavailability and soil -plant transfer, providing mechanistic insight into metal dynamics in saline agroecosystems and supporting the strategic use of halophytes for managing metal-affected saline soils.

Topics

Plant Stress Responses and Tolerance Heavy metals in environment Aluminum toxicity and tolerance in plants and animals

Identifiers

DOI: 10.3389/fsoil.2026.1767992

Citations and references

Cited by 011 references

Metrics — AkademScholar · Coming soon