Exploiting sea water for agriculture isa recent phenomenon that hasgained importance in the face of rising population and dwindling waterresources. Researchers screening saltwater plants from deserts and salineand alkaline soils scattered aroundthe globe have stumbled on to a plantwhich is proving beneficial to humans.
Salicornia species is a plant thriving on saline water collected from thecoastlines of the US. It possesses vastpotential for forage grains and oilseeds, besides bearing beneficial byproducts for rural communities andindustry. Research has also led to thedevelopment of a Salicornia varietythat is well suited to tough coastalconditions in the Middle East andsemi-arid areas (Ceres, Vo127, No 2).
Researchers at the University 0fArizona, US and the Archer DanielsMidland Company, carried out testsof the Salicornia oil, extracted fromits seeds. The results indicate that theoil is an excellent quality vegetableoil that could safely be used in foodand cosmetics.
The biomass left after oil-extrat:-tion is 42 per cent protein. About 65.70 per cent of the salt from theresidues can be removed by washingit in seawater, rendering it edible forlivestock. Fertilisers are also notneeded for growing the plant as seawater contains sufficient nutrients.