Shelter and shade provider
Saltbush is a valuable shelter and windbreak for protecting habitations, gardens and orchards (Orwa et al., 2009). Its shade is beneficial to soil moisture and livestock, thereby improving soil fertility (Gezahegn, 2006).
Soil reclamation
Saltbush is helpful in sand dune and saline soils reclamation (Orwa et al., 2009). Germination is not hampered by soil salinity and saltbush can withstand salinity levels as high as 50 dS/m (Qadir et al., 2008). On waterlogged saline soils, salinity levels of 25 dS/m did not hamper root development. Saltbush cultivation under brackish water irrigation was also possible (Dagar et al., 2002).