🌱 Al-Qatf - White Raghel: A desert plant that defies salinity and drought
When it comes to plants that can adapt to the harshest environmental conditions, the white gorse (Atriplex Leucoclada) is at the forefront. This small, evergreen shrub is more than just an ordinary plant; it's a story of resilience in the face of harsh climates and environmental benefits that make it an important companion for sustainable agriculture.
✨ Plant description
White ragal is a shrub that grows to over a meter tall, with dense branches and gray stems. Its semi-oval leaves, approximately 3 cm long, are distinguished by their tender texture and silvery color.
This shrub blooms in spring , its small flowers appearing in dense spikes. The fruit is a small capsule, no larger than half a centimeter, containing brown seeds that are suitable for planting.
🌿 Environment and native habitat
- Native habitat: coastal areas of the Mediterranean basin, temperate Europe, and some areas of Saudi Arabia .
- Environmental tolerance: Able to withstand high salinity, high temperature, and strong winds.
- Suitable soil: well-drained loamy and clay.
These properties make it an ideal plant for cultivation in desert environments and areas suffering from soil salinity .
🌸 Planting and germination season
- Planting season: Spring, with the possibility of planting throughout the year in protected areas.
- Propagation: By seeds.
- Scientific studies: Research has shown that mechanical seed treatment (such as crushing before planting) increased germination rates from 7% to 69%, making cutting cultivation more successful.
🌍 Benefits of picking - white clover
The importance of white sage is not limited to its ability to tolerate salinity, but it also has multiple environmental and health benefits :
- It contributes to improving the soil and reducing its salinity.
- Used as a natural hedge or plant barrier.
- It has therapeutic uses in folk medicine.
- It contributes to combating desertification and preserving the vegetation cover.
✍️ Picking in modern agriculture
In light of the global climate change, the search for plants capable of surviving harsh conditions has become essential. The white squill is a practical example of a plant that can be part of environmental solutions in sustainable agriculture, especially in desert and semi-arid regions.
✅ Conclusion
Al-Qatf - White rhizome is a small plant, but its ecological value is great. It is a symbol of adaptation to nature, an effective tool to combat salinity and desertification, and an aesthetic and healthy plant. Growing it is not just an agricultural experiment, but an investment in a more sustainable future.