Identifying and Evaluating Salt‐Tolerant Halophytes Along a Tropical Coastal Zone: Growth Response and Desalination Potential

Littoral soils along Ghana's coastal zones, hosting diverse halophytes with multiple potential applications, contain significant salt content due to seawater influence. This study identified and explored the nutritional, ecological, and medicinal significance of these halophytes, focusing on their salt tolerance and desalination abilities. Deep learning image recognition was employed to identify plant species, followed by a greenhouse experiment on five selected halophytes (<i>Ipomoea aquatica, Lactuca taraxacifolia, Paspalum vaginatum, Sesuvium portulacastrum,</i> and <i>Talinum triangulare</i>) to assess their response to varying salt concentrations (0, 25, and 50 dS/m) and soil types (sea sand and arable soil). High salt concentrations (50 dS/m) generally reduced plant growth rates and biomass accumulation while increasing soil electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), and pH. Arable soil improved halophyte Relative Growth Rate (RGR) and performance index (PI) by 5% and 52%, respectively, compared to sea sand. <i>Sesuvium portulacastrum</i> exhibited enhanced PI at elevated salinity and demonstrated superior salt ion accumulation in roots and leaves at 50 dS/m. Both <i>P. vaginatum</i> and <i>S. portulacastrum</i> maintained the highest shoot and root dry weights under increased salinity, whereas <i>S. portulacastrum</i> significantly reduced soil EC, pH, Na, and Cl ion contents compared to other species. <i>Sesuvium portulacastrum</i> reduced several soil salinity indicators significantly compared to other species, highlighting its potential for addressing soil and water salinity issues in affected environments. This study shows the potential of Ghana's halophytes in addressing soil salinity-related challenges.