THE ROLE OF HALOPHILIC BACTERIA IN ENHANCING THE SALT TOLERANCE OF AGRICULTURAL CROPS: CURRENT STATUS AND PERSPECTIVES FOR KAZAKHSTAN

Abstract

Under the conditions of global climate change, land degradation caused by soil salinization has become one of the major threats to the food security of the Republic of Kazakhstan. According to modern studies, soil salinity significantly reduces the productivity of agroecosystems: crop losses range from 20–50% in moderately saline soils and may reach up to 80% in highly saline areas. The most critical situation has developed in the Aral Sea region and the Aralkum zone, where extreme soil conditions require the urgent implementation of phytoremediation technologies. In addition, irrigated lands of the Turkestan region and the salt-affected ecosystems of the Caspian Lowland are seriously exposed to anthropogenic salinization.

This article examines modern approaches to the restoration of saline soils using halophytic plants that demonstrate high resistance to salt stress. Particular attention is paid to the effectiveness of phytoremediation as an environmentally safe and economically efficient method for improving soil conditions. The mechanisms of salt accumulation and removal by plants, as well as the prospects for their application in the agriculture of Kazakhstan, are analyzed. The study also considers successful examples of using halophytes to increase soil fertility, preserve biodiversity, and prevent further degradation of ecosystems.