Variations in Mineral Ion Composition of Soil and Some Halophytes in the Mediterranean Coastal North of Egypt Hediat M.H. Salama and Akram A.H. Ali Botany Department, Faculty of Science, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt. Salt marshes are widely distributed in the north western part of Egypt with their own distinct vegetation. Of these Zygophyllum album, Suaeda pruinosa, Arthrocnemum glaucum, Halocnemum strobilaceum (succulent halophytes) and Limoniastrum monopetalum (non succulent halophyte) are characteristic of two sites; Burg El-Arab and Matruh of Mediterranean Coastal salt marshes north Western of Egypt. Soil and plant samples were collected during April 1999. Soil concentrations of Na + , K + , Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ , Cu 2+ and P 3+ in the two habitats and the variation of these elements from five plant communities were determined. The ions of Na + , K + , Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ , Cu 2+ and P 3+ concentrations were higher in soil samples of Matruh habitat than that found in Burg El-Arab habitat, Mg 2 is the major cation followed by Ca 2+ in the two habitats. Accumulation of Na + , K + , Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ , Cu 2+ and P 3+ is greater in the green parts (either of leaves or stems) than in the normal stems of the plants in the two habitats, while the dry matter was higher in stems than the green parts (leaves or stems). Members of the Chenopods contain much higher sodium and chloride than Zygophyllum growing in the two habitats. Lower calcium and magnesium was observed in Arthrocnemum and Halocnemum than in Zygophyllum in the two habitats. Keywords: Halophytes, succulent, non-succulent, mineral ion composition, soil characteristics, salt marches Introduction Halophytes are highly specialized plants known to overcome the accumulation of salts in their tissues in different ways with or without a regulating mechanism (Chapman, 1974 ). In a previous study El-Shourbagy et al. ( 1984 ) demonstrated that four different halophytes; Halocnemum strobilaceum, Arthrocnemum glaucum, Limoniastrum monopetalum and Zygophyllum album were able to grow and reproduce in salt marshes of the Mediterranean Coast of the north Egypt. The plants of these salt marshes are subjected to diverse mineral inputs and outputs mainly as a result of the herbivore grazing behavior. The concentration of mineral elements in the soil reflects the abundance and distribution of plant species ( Ben-Shahar and Coe 1992 ) which consequently, influences the feeding behavior of herbivores. Besides nutritional characteristics such as fiber and protein content, it is also important to evaluate the mineral composition of the plants, since the deficiency of an element can affect the performance of Cattle a razed on the marshes and an excess can be toxic ( De Vos et al. 1989 ). The availability of the minerals in the soil, the plant species and its genetic requirement for specific quantities of nutrients for its growth and reproduction are all known to affect the concentration in the plants ( Chapin, 1980 ). The concentration of an element depends also on the age of the plants ( Pegtel, 1987; Georgiadis and Mc Naughton, 1990 ), on the environmental conditions in which the plants grow ( Indiati and Sharpley, 1996 ), and on the part of the plant analyzed ( Barnes et al. 1990). Therefore, the objectives of this work were: (a) to study the mineral composition of the soils and the associated dominant vegetation in salt marshes of differing aridity to evaluate the nutrient status for both plants and animals; (b) to quantify the changes in vegetation from different pastoral communities, pointing out the implications for the herbivores.