Shadi Hazhir; Reza Erfanzadeh; Mohammad Jafari
Volume 28, Issue 3 , October 2021, , Pages 410-423
Abstract
Soil and plants in natural ecosystems are always interacting with each other. The different structure and characteristics of plant species in an area in the long term affect environmental variables, especially on the soil. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of two different plant species, ...
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Soil and plants in natural ecosystems are always interacting with each other. The different structure and characteristics of plant species in an area in the long term affect environmental variables, especially on the soil. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of two different plant species, Astragalus myriacanthus and Acantholimon spinosum, on some soil chemical properties in the different spatial locations. Soil sampling in early fall 2018 by randomly selecting 20 replicates (10 individuals of each species) from four locations (upward slope edge, downward slope edge, center and outside (as control)) in sycamore rangelands Naz, Yazd province, was done and a total of 80 soil samples were collected. Then, chemical properties of the soil including pH, EC, total organic matter (TOM), particulate organic matter (POM) and total nitrogen (TN) were measured in the laboratory. The effect of plant presence on soil properties showed that the parameters of organic matter (mean 1.66%), total nitrogen (mean 0.22%), electrical conductivity (mean 368.97 Ms / cm) and POM (with an average of 1.28%) in beneath A. myriacanthus significantly more than the soil outside the floor (with averages of 0.92%, 0.13%, Ms / cm 139.5, 58, respectively (P <0.05). TN and POM in upslope edge were significantly higher than other edges. In A. spinosum, there were no significsnt differences of TOM (1.77%), TN (0.23%), EC (215.46 Ms/cm) and pH (7.97) in beneath with outside the canopy. While the POM with an average of 1.49% had the highest amount under the canopy relative to the outside soil as well as other sampling sides. In general, this study expresses the different role of different cushion plants on the chemical and qualitative characteristics of the soil, which by recognizing this role can help to improve, develop and maintain their habitats.
Kazem Saedi; Adel Sepehri; Mohammad Pesarakli; Hosein Gharedaghi; Reza Azizinejad
Volume 21, Issue 3 , December 2014, , Pages 518-529
Abstract
In most Iranian rangelands, continuous grazing begins with melting snow and continues until the beginning of snow. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of continuous grazing system on a number of morphological attributes of Bromus tomentellus and Ferula haussknechtii during 2010-2011 in Saral ...
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In most Iranian rangelands, continuous grazing begins with melting snow and continues until the beginning of snow. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of continuous grazing system on a number of morphological attributes of Bromus tomentellus and Ferula haussknechtii during 2010-2011 in Saral Rangelands of Kurdistan Province. The 30-year exclosure was selected as control area inside the Saral Research Station. In different growth stages, the morphological attributes including the shortest and longest basal area diameter, the shortest and longest canopy diameter, and the height of 10 plants were measured. The annual yield of 30 plants of each species in each year was clipped and weighed to determine forage consumption intensity. All data were subjected to statistical analysis in a completely randomized design using combined analysis. Mean comparisons were performed using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test. Continuous grazing caused to the increase of basal area diameter and canopy diameter of B. tomentellus significantly; however, the height varied in two studied treatments, depending on the year. The three studied morphological attributes of F. haussknekhtii were affected drastically by continuous grazing. In this species, basal area diameter was more affected by the conditions of the year. In both species, ungrazed plants used seasonable rainfall more efficiently as compared to the grazed plants.