Species-specific traits determine halophyte nutrient patterns rather than plant functional types

Halophytes are plants capable of completing their life cycle in saline soils and, depending on their ecological strategies and the environmental conditions in which they grow, they may be broadly classified into two plant functional types (PFTs): hydrohalophytes and xerohalophytes. We investigated whether distinct nutritional patterns were associated with these PFTs by comparing the nutrient content of three hydrohalophyte and three xerohalophyte species in relation to soil physicochemical properties, microbial communities, and enzymatic activities. Our results suggest that halophyte nutritional status was related to species-specific traits and local soil conditions, rather than being explained solely by PFT classification. For instance, hydrohalophytes Atriplex portulacoides and Salicornia perennis exhibited similar nutritional profiles despite contrasting soil physicochemical conditions. Statistical analyses identified soil pH, electrical conductivity, organic carbon, and clay and silt contents as key environmental factors associated with variation in plant nutrient concentrations. Moreover, a positive correlation was observed between silt and clay textures and microbial biomass, indicating a potential role for soil-microbe interactions in nutrient cycling. Overall, these findings indicate that nutrient dynamics in halophytes may not be fully predicted by PFT categories alone, highlighting the complex interplay between species traits and site-specific soil conditions. This underscores the value of mechanistic, species-level studies for improving our understanding of nutrient acquisition and cycling in saline ecosystems.