Abstract
Abstract The desiccation of the Aral Sea led to the formation of the Aralkum Desert, characterized by highly saline substrates and pronounced moisture deficit, which significantly complicates vegetation restoration. This study presents the results of field investigations on the establishment of halophytic shrubs on the desiccated bed of the Aral Sea, taking into account sowing and planting seasonality, soil water regime, and the application of soil amendments. Experimental work was conducted in the spring of 2025 on experimental plots of the dried bed of the Aral Sea. The seeding area was 0.288 hectares, and the planting area was 0.48 hectares. The work was carried out on three plots with a total area of 0.768 hectares, belonging to forest suitability groups II–IV, using zeolite, hydrogel, and hydroseeding technology. Experiments were conducted in spring 2025 at three sites with a total area of 0.48 ha, classified within forest suitability groups II-IV, using zeolite, hydrogel, and hydroseeding techniques. After winter storage, seed viability declined in all studied species, with the most pronounced reductions observed in Calligonum caput-medusae (67→30%), Salsola richteri (30→10%), and Nitraria schoberi (40→17%). The average soil moisture content within the 0-100 cm profile decreased from 61.4% in spring to 47.1% in autumn, while groundwater depth increased from 2.0 to 2.8 m. For Halostachys caspica, only spring planting proved effective (up to 14 plants per 100 m2 when zeolite and hydrogel were applied). For Salsola richteri, the best results were obtained with autumn sowing combined with zeolite application at sites belonging to forest suitability groups II-III (up to 38 plants per 20 m2), whereas no establishment was recorded at group IV sites. The findings emphasize the need for a differentiated approach to phytomelioration in the Aralkum Desert.