Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
Abstract
To study soil salinization and its amplitude due to the planting of Haloxylon ammodendron in Segzi plain of Isfahan, ordination method was used. The study was performed through stratified random sampling. Six regions were separated on the basis of different physiognomy and the year of Haloxylon ammodendron planting (successful and unsuccessful regions). In each region, 10 coeval individuals of Haloxylon ammodendron were selected, and plant characteristics including, height, canopy cover area, canopy cover perimeter, canopy cover diameter and basal area were measured. Three profiles were also dug in each region and five chemical soil properties i.e. EC, Na+, Cl-, K+ and SAR were measured in five horizons. Data were analyzed by means of ordination method. The results indicated that soil salinization was extremely high in successful planting regions of Haloxylon ammodendron where there was no limitation for root extension. Consequently, in these regions, the absorption of water and minerals, the growth of plant characteristics and finally the amount of litter fall to the soil surface were significantly higher than that in unsuccessful planting regions of Haloxylon ammodendron. Hence the role of Haloxylon ammodendron in soil salinization of its stratum was proved. On the other hand, the results showed that the range of soil salinization was only restricted to the first and second horizons (0-30 and 30-60 centimeters from the soil surface) and other horizons had not been affected by the growth of Haloxylon ammodendron.
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