Australian Saline Keekar

Australian Saline Keekar is Acacia ampliceps, also known as Salt Wattle, a highly salt-tolerant Australian acacia used for saline land reclamation, windbreaks and supplementary fodder.

The scientific name of Australian Saline Keekar is Acacia ampliceps.

Australian Saline Keekar is a perennial species.

Yes — Australian Saline Keekar is suited to Pakistan's drier and, where relevant, saline growing conditions. See the regional suitability table on this page for specifics.

Australian Saline Keekar is rated Suitable for: Sindh. Other zones may be Conditional or Not Recommended — see the full regional suitability table on this page.

Based on its soil profile (Highly saline, sodic and alkaline soils; shallow-rooted, performs best where roots can reach a shallow saline water table. Intolerant of acidic soils.), check the soil notes above for sandy-soil suitability.

Salinity tolerance is rated Very High. This is one of the more saline-tolerant options in the catalog.

Among the most salt-tolerant species in this catalog — published research describes it thriving in highly saline, sodic and alkaline soils (it does not tolerate acidic soils). Has been specifically field-tested for salt-affected land reclamation in southern Pakistan.

Performs best with access to a shallow, brackish water table rather than relying purely on rainfall — native to arid northwestern Australia and specifically trialled on salt-affected land in southern Pakistan (Sindh). Irrigation need is rated Moderate.

Windbreak/boundary row: 3–4m spacing. Block reclamation planting on saline ground: 2×2.5m spacing (approx. 650–800 plants/acre).

Published trials describe fodder value for both cattle and sheep, used as a supplementary browse rather than a primary feed. An established acre on reclaimed saline ground can provide part-browse for roughly 10–15 goats/sheep or 3–4 cattle/buffalo during dry-season feed gaps. General estimate — verify against your own stocking conditions.

Published trials report foliage crude protein around 10–17% (DM) with digestibility of roughly 40–55% — suitable as supplemental rather than sole fodder. Confirm with your own feed test.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes — it is a nitrogen-fixing species that can improve soil fertility over time.

Scarify seed coat (sandpaper or brief hot-water soak), then direct-sow 1–2cm deep on prepared saline ground, or into nursery bags for difficult sites.

Propagated from seed. Establishes well by direct seeding once scarified (nick the seed coat or a brief hot-water soak) — no special nursery requirement, though nursery-raising improves survival on very difficult sites.

Useful browse/windbreak height from year 2–3; becomes a reliable saline-land fodder and reclamation asset from year 4–5. Relatively short-lived but coppices and root-suckers readily for repeat use.

Moderate-fast growing but relatively short-lived; coppices and root-suckers readily for repeat use

Windbreak/boundary row: 3–4m spacing. Block reclamation planting on saline ground: 2×2.5m spacing (approx. 650–800 plants/acre).

Not reliably — drought tolerance is rated Moderate.

Drought tolerance is rated Moderate.

Frost tolerance is rated Moderate.

Primarily: Fodder, Windbreak, Soil reclamation.