Growth rate ∝ Irrigation × (1 − SalinityStress)
SalinityStress = clamp((ppt − 35)/35, 0, 1) if no desalination
Mangroves naturally tolerate brackish/saline water via salt-excreting leaves and specialised roots, but desert cultivation still trades off irrigation volume against salt accumulation in the soil. A desalination pre-filter cuts effective salinity at the cost of energy, letting more of each drop go toward growth instead of osmotic stress.
- Water Salinity — parts-per-thousand salt in the irrigation source; higher values stress the trees unless filtered.
- Irrigation Rate — volume of water delivered per cycle; more water speeds growth but raises total water used.
- Planting Density — number of mangrove saplings simulated in the plot.
- Enable Desalination Filter — halves effective salinity reaching the roots, improving survival at higher salt levels.
Real-world use: pilot desert mangrove projects (e.g. in the UAE and Saudi Arabia) use exactly this trade-off — treated or brackish groundwater plus salt-tolerant plantings — to green coastal desert land and rebuild carbon-storing wetlands.