NEW AND RENEWABLE SOURCE OF ENERGY: SALICORNIA SPP. A HALOPHYTE HAS POTENTIAL FOR BIOMASS YIELD IN COASTAL AREAS OF THE WORLD

摘要

Around 40 percent of world population lives in coastal areas. The salt marshes, coastal inlands and seashores have their special flora and fauna and most of it is able to survive and grow in salt water. There's a limitedamount of fresh water in the world and use of saline water for raising biomass and biofuel utilizing halophytes couldprovide sustainable development without competing with fresh water resources or aerable lands. Several halophytesgrow in salt marhses and coastal areas around the globe including Salicornia bigelovii, Salicornia brachiata andSalicornia europaea. These plants often occupy the lowest and most saline (>3.5% total salt) areas of salt marshes.This could be potential plant for oil and biomass production on hitherto un exploited sea shores. Salicorniabrachiata Roxb. (Amaranthaceae), a leaf less succulent annual halophyte, having a unique genetic makeup whichallows them to grow and survive under stress conditions. It is found commonly growing on the Gujarat coast inIndia. Investigations have been undertaken to raise Salicornia and develop its agrotechnology for large scalecultivation.