Moslem yazdani; Reza Erfanzadeh; Asghar Mosleh Arani
Volume 27, Issue 1 , April 2020, , Pages 47-57
Abstract
Plant litter is one of the best factors in the protection and stability of soil and by decomposition of litters, the percentage of organic matter could be increased which also improves the chemical properties of soil and plant production. The aim of this study was to compare the litter quality accumulated ...
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Plant litter is one of the best factors in the protection and stability of soil and by decomposition of litters, the percentage of organic matter could be increased which also improves the chemical properties of soil and plant production. The aim of this study was to compare the litter quality accumulated beneath three shrub species (Amygdalus scoparia, Ebenus stelata, Daphne mezerum) by measuring the soil chemical (carbon, calcium, magnesium, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) and physical (Electrical conductivity and acidity) properties in Marvast rangelands, Yazd province, Iran. At the end of growth season, fifteen sites were selected and soil samples containing litter material was done randomly taken beneath and outside of the shrub canopy covers. Then, the chemical and physical characteristics of litter were measured in the laboratory. In order to compare the litter characteristics, one-way ANOVA were made between species and, between outside and beneath the shrubs. Mean comparisons were made using Duncan method. The results showed that the litter samples under E. stelata and D. mezerum shrubs had the highest values for calcium, magnesium and nitrogen contents. In contrast, the litter samples collected from outside shrubs had the highest values carbon content and electrical conductivity. The phosphorus contents between the species and between under and outside shrub of litters were statistically equal. Generally, the results of this study showed that the woody species in dry regions had different capacity in litter quality and soil improvement. It should be considered in the activity of rangeland improvement and development.
Roya Ehghaghi; Asghar Mosleh Arani; Hamid Reza Azim Zadeh; Mohammad Zargaran; Bahman Kiani
Volume 22, Issue 1 , June 2015, , Pages 168-183
Abstract
The distribution and establishment of plant species is affected by plant characteristics and environmental conditions. The species of Calligonum genus, belonging to Polygonaceae family, have a wide distribution in arid and semi-arid climates. In this study, the distribution and qualitative characteristics ...
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The distribution and establishment of plant species is affected by plant characteristics and environmental conditions. The species of Calligonum genus, belonging to Polygonaceae family, have a wide distribution in arid and semi-arid climates. In this study, the distribution and qualitative characteristics of four species of Calligonum (C. stenopterum, C. persicum, C. bungei, and C. polygonoides) were investigated. In each habitat, four soil profiles were dug and soil properties including soil texture, EC, pH, lime, gypsum, SAR, and organic matter were measured. Results showed that all species needed a light soil texture, loamy-sand, with relatively high gypsum and lime content and a slightly alkaline pH. Very low canopy cover indicated a low humidity condition as well as the sever lack of organic matter in soil. Very low rainfall, large temperature differences between summer and winter, and a long dry season (10 12months) were the characteristics of the study habitats. The number of frost days in the habitats of C. stenopterum and C. persicum was lower as compared to the habitats of C. bungei and C. polygonoides, providing the conditions for growth of C. stenopterum and C. persicum, which are exclusively native to this region of Iran
Asghar Mosleh Arany; Gholamreza Bakhshi Khaniki; Bibi ozra Hakimi Bafghi
Volume 19, Issue 4 , March 2013, , Pages 581-589
Abstract
Potassium, sodium and free proline play important roles in adaptation of plant species to arid conditions. Distribution of Na+, K+ and free proline in desert plants is not clear. In this study, the accumulation of Na+, K+ and free proline was investigated in three species namely, Stipagrostis pennata, ...
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Potassium, sodium and free proline play important roles in adaptation of plant species to arid conditions. Distribution of Na+, K+ and free proline in desert plants is not clear. In this study, the accumulation of Na+, K+ and free proline was investigated in three species namely, Stipagrostis pennata, Calligonum polygonoides and Hammada salicornia. These species are naturally distributed in Irano-Turanian region. Six plants were selected from each species in the same conditions, in the dry summer of 2010. Soil humidity measurement showed that all plants were in drought conditions. Half of these plants were irrigated. The quantities of Na+, K+ and proline were determined in the roots and stems of all samples. Results showed that the concentrations of free proline in the stem and root of S. pennata were significantly higher than that of other two species and irrigated S. pennata. Furthermore, the concentration of K+ in the stem of H. salicornia was significantly higher than that of other two species and irrigated H. salicornia. Also, the concentration of K+ in the root of H. salicornia was higher than that of other species, but this concentration was not significantly different from the irrigated species. Sodium, like potassium content was higher in H. salicornia, but significant difference was not observed in its quantity between irrigated and unirrigated species. C. polygonoides after H. salicornia accumulated large quantities of Na+ in its stem. Sodium content was higher in the root of H. salicornia and C. polygonoides in comparison with S. pennata. Results also showed that K/Na ratio was less in roots of unirrigated species in all three species, particularly in S. pennata while it was high in stems of S. pennata H. salicornia compared to irrigated species. Consequently, it was concluded that these three species chose different strategies to cope with drought.