Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Master student of Natural Resources Engineering, Desertification combating, University of Hormozgan, Bandarabas, Hormozgan, Iran.

2 Academic member, Natural resources engineering group, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Hormozgan, Bandarabas, Hormozgan, Iran

3 Associated Professor, Natural resources engineering group, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Hormozgan, Bandarabas, Hormozgan, Iran.

10.22092/ijrdr.2024.131792

Abstract

Introduction
The distribution of plants in different habitats is influenced by environmental and edaphic conditions. Identifying the relationship between soil factors and vegetation, as well as the specific soil characteristics in which these species are found, is one of the important goals of this research. Taking steps in this direction will help prevent habitat destruction and facilitate the restoration of damaged areas. Let me know if you need any further adjustments!
 
Materials and methods
The study identified three representative areas using the physiognomic-systematic method, focusing on the habitat of Ferula assafoetida L. Areas with less than 15% coverage were classified as low-density, those with 15-30% coverage as medium-density, and areas with more than 30% coverage as high-density. In each representative area, eight transects of 1000 meters were systematically established and positioned perpendicularly to each other. To account for slope variations in sampling, quadrat sampling along the transects was employed. The plot size was determined using the minimum level method, with species density measured in 2 x 2 square meter plots across a total of 240 plots. To prepare soil samples, two soil profiles were dug at a distance of 500 meters along each transect, resulting in a total of 48 profiles from which soil samples were collected at depths of 0 to 30 cm. In each representative area, three transects of 1000 meters were placed perpendicularly, with ten sampling bases spaced 100 meters apart along each transect. The collected samples were transported to the Water and Soil Laboratory of Hormozgan University for analysis. The amount of gum collected from each base was measured using a digital scale with an accuracy of 0.001 grams. A comparison of the production of this plant gum was conducted across the different habitats. The changes in edaphic factors in representative areas were analyzed using SPSS software with the GLM test, revealing low density at 15.8 bases per hectare, medium density at 27.8 bases per hectare, and high density at 46.9 bases per hectare of Ferula assafoetida L.
 
Results
In the areas with low density, the soil acidity level was measured at 7.4, while in the medium-density area, it was 7.8, and in the high-density area, it reached 8. These results indicate that soil acidity is higher in densely populated areas and lower in areas with low density, suggesting that Ferula assafoetida is more compatible with alkaline soils. As soil acidity increases, the density of this plant decreases. The analysis of density changes in relation to organic matter percentage showed that organic matter has a direct effect on plant density; as organic matter increases, so does the density of the plant. Conversely, when the soil has low organic matter content, the density of Ferula assafoetida declines. Additionally, the comparison of average potassium levels revealed that the low-density area had the lowest potassium content, while the high-density area had the highest. The combined levels of calcium and magnesium were also lowest in the low-density area and highest in the dense Angozeh habitat. Furthermore, the number of Ferula assafoetida bases per unit area increased in regions with higher sand content, whereas the number of bases decreased in clay soils. This plant is not compatible with saline or acidic soils.
 
Conclusion
Understanding the ecological needs and performance of plant species is essential for implementing remedial activities in dry and desert ecosystems. Bestak city, located in Hormozgan province, is home to numerous Anghuzeh plantations, which have the potential to produce gum, generate currency, and provide significant economic value for local communities. The region is characterized by elevations ranging from 1900 to 2500 meters. This species exhibits a greater geographical distribution in areas with sand, silt, and high acidity, with increased density and decreased distribution in clay-rich areas. According to the findings, it appears that this plant thrives in light soils.

Keywords

 -Ajorloo. M., Firuozi. O. & Shahmohamadi. A. 2015.  Effect of livestock grazing on the yield of gum tragacanth in Astragalus gossypinus Fischer habitats. Journal of Rangeland, 8: 363-372.  http://rangelandsrm.ir/article-1-145-en.html  
 -Akhlasy, A., Shafiee, R. & Ansary, F. 2016. Provide a native branding model for online retailers using a qualitative database theory method. New Marketing Research, 21 (2): 167-187. (in Persian)
 -Askarzadeh., M. G. & Shad. Gh., 2005. Vegetation study of Torbat-e Jam region, Forests and Rangelands Research Institute. 122. (in Persian)
 -Bagheri. Sh., 2013. Chemical Composition and Antioxidant Properties of Ferula-assafoetida Leaves Essential Oil. Iranian Journal of Pharmacology and Therapautics. 2(24): 7-52. (in Persian)
 -Baldi, E., 2021. Soil–Plant Interaction: Effects on Plant Growth and Soil Biodiversity, Agronomy, 11: 2378.  https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11122378
  -Borjoeifar, A., Sedigheh Nabieyan, B. & Zare Mehrjerdi, M. R., 2021. Development of Operational Strategies for Branding Ferula assafoetida L. Medicinal Plant (Case study: Rangelands of Kerman Province, Iran), Rangelands Journal, 11 (2): 224-240. www.rangeland.ir
- Duan, A. G., Jie, L., Hu, X. & Zhang, J.,  2019. Effects of Planting Density on Soil Bulk Density, pH and Nutrients of Unthinned Chinese Fir Mature Stands in South Subtropical Region of China, Forests, 10 (4): 351. https://doi.org/10.3390/f10040351
-Ebrahimian, V., Azarnivand, H. & Javadi, A. A., 2024. Investigating the relationship between soil properties and morphological traits and volatile oil components of Ferula assafoetia L. under habitat Condition in Kerman province, Iran. Journal of Rangeland Science, 14(3), 1-21.
 -Freed. J., 2003. Non-timber forest products in local economies: The case of Mason County, Washington. Journal of sustainable forestry, 13: 67-69. https://doi.org/10.1300/J091v13n03_06
 
 -Gholami. B. A. & Askarzadeh. M. A., 2005. Study of Coma, Candle and Ferula assa-foetida L cultivation at different times in order to tame them in Mashhad, National Conference on Sustainable Development of Medicinal Plants. (in Persian)
 -Ghavampour, M. A., Kazemi, M. A. and Muslimi, M., 2015. The effect of thiourea in breaking dormancy and stimulating seed germination of Ferula assa-foetida the rangeland species. 3rd National Conference on Agriculture and Sustainable Natural Resources, Tehran, (in Persian) https://civilica.com/doc/416702
 -Hashemi Rad, M., Ebrahimi, M. and Shirmohammad, E., 2019. Land Use Change Effects on Plant and Soil Properties in a Mountainous Region of Iran, Journal of Environmental Science and Management, 21(2) .47-56.
 -Hatami. H., 2012. Biodiversity of Desert Ecosystems Based on Medicinal Plants, First National Desert Conference, Tehran, International Desert Research Center, University of Tehran. (in Persian)
 -Hosseini Bemrod. G. & Mahdavi. C. Kh., 2013. Investigation of some ecological characteristics of Ferula assa-foetida L medicinal plant Sabzevar region of Khorasan Razavi province. Journal of Plant and Ecology, 9 (1), 31-45 (in Persian)
 -Hossein Jafari. S., Sepehry. A. Soltanloo. H. & Karimian. A. A., 2019. Effect of Topography and Soil Properties on Distribution of Ferula pseudalliacea (Bitter Asafetida) in Yazd Province, Iran. Journal of Rangeland Science, 9(2). 184-195. www.rangeland.ir
 -Hossein Jafari. H., Sepehri. A., Soltanlo. H. & Karimian. A. A., 2019. Investigation and comparison of leachate yield of Ferula assofestida medicinal plant in Taft rangelands of Yazd province. Rangeland Scientific Research Journal, 13 (3), 397-387. (in Persian). Doi: 20.1001.1.20080891.1398.13.3.4.9
 -Jamshidi, A., Moradi, N. & Rezai, M., 2022. Relationship between salt-resistant hemicryptophyte species in proportion to edaphic factors in the adjacent deserts of the Persian Gulf, Journal of Rangeland and Desert Research, 29(1)، 121-130. (in Persian), Doi: 10.22092/ijrdr.2022.126009
 -Karimian. V. Vahabi. M. R. Roustakhiz. J. & Nodehi. N. 2017. Investigation of habitat characteristics of Verbascum songaricum schrenk in rangeland ecosystems of Zagros. Journal of plant ecosystem conservation, 4: 91-104. Doi: pec.gonbad.ac.ir on 2024-08-13
 -Khosravi, H., Ebrahimi, M. and Rigi, M. 2017. Effects of rangeland exclusion on plant cover and soil properties in a steppe rangeland of Southeastern Iran, Arid Land Research and Management, 31(3).1-20. https://sid.ir/paper/136407/fa
 -Mersad Borjoeifar, A., Sedigheh Nabieyan, B., Saadatfar, A. & Zare Mehrjerdi, M. R. 2021. Development of Operational Strategies for Branding Ferula assa- foetida L. Medicinal Plant (Case study: Rangelands of Kerman Province, Iran), Journal of rangeland Science, 11 (2). 224-240.  www.rangeland.ir
 -Momeni Demneh, J., Esmaeilpour, Y., H., Farashi, A., 2021. Predicting suitable growing areas of Ferula assa-foetida L. in northeastern Iran using the maximum entropy model. Iranian Journal of Range and Desert Research, 28, (3), pp. 578-592. (in Persian), https://doi.org/10.22092/ijrdr.2021.125016
 -Motamedi, M., Valinejad, F., Alizadeh, A. & Souri, M., 2011. Investigation the effect of the patches ecological and single basal halophyte bases of Urmia Lake as microbial habitat on soil characteristics, Journal of Desert Ecosystem Engineering, 4 (7)، 76-67. (in Persian), Doi: 10.22052/deej.2018.7.20.11
 -Mohammad hosseini. M., Venditti. A., Sarker. S. & Nahar. L. 2019. The genus Ferula: Ethnobotany, phytochemistry and bioactivities – A review. Journal of Industrial Crops & Products. 129. 350–394.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2018.12.012 ·
 -Noedost. N., Dehdari. C., Razmjoee. D., Ahmadpour. R. & Shokat. P. 2017. Individual ecology study of coma in Khuzestan province, Iran. New findings in life sciences, 4 (4), 352-337. (in Persian), Doi: 10.29252/nbr.4.4.337
  -Rezai, M. and Zerehi, F.,  2022. Spatial distribution and stability of accumulated sediments around Salvadora persica L. and Alhaji camelorum L. and modeling of prediction of its change, Desert Management, 9 (4). 39-52. Doi:  10.22034/jdmal.2022.545782.1362
 -Saadatfar. A., Tavasolian. A. & Hossein Jafari. C., 2018. Determining the potential habitat of Ferula assofestida using hierarchical analysis and GIS (Case study: Chatroud region, Kerman). Journal of Remote Sensing and GIS in Natural Resources, 9 (4)، 155-139. (in Persian), http://girs.iaubushehr.ac.ir
-Saravi, H., Sefidi, S. H., and Bahjo, K., 2013. Investigating some environmental factors and physiography of Barijeh plant (Ferula gummosa boiss) in Klarod Karaj region, 3rd National Agricultural Congress. 1-10.
-Sefidkon, F., 2008. Strategic plan for medicinal plants research. Published by National Forest and Rangeland Research
-Sood, R., 2020. Asafoetida (Ferula asafoetida): A high-value crop suitable for the colddesert of Himachal Pradesh, India, Journal of Applied and Natural Science 12(4): 607-617.
.- Sonigra, P. & Meena, M., 2021. Metabolic profile, bioactivities, and variations in the chemical constituents of the Ferula genus (Apiaceae). Front. Pharmacol. 11: 2328. Doi: 10.3389/fphar.2020.608649
 -Zahedi Amiri, Bhestani Meybodi, N., Azarnivand, H., Zare Chahouki, M. A., Jafari, M., 2002. Investigation of vegetation relationships of Poshtkuh rangelands in Yazd province with physical and chemical properties of soil using multivariate analysis methods, Natural Resources of Iran, 55 (3), 419-434. (in Persian).
 -Zare Karizi. Omidi. M., Falah Hosseini. H., Yazdani. D., Tezazadeh. Sh. Irvani. N. & Oladzadeh. A., 2011. A review of the pharmacological effects of the medicinal plant Angoa (Ferula assa - foetida L.): A systematic review article. Journal of Medicinal Plants, 10 (40), 25-17. (in Persian), Doi: 20.1001.1.2717204.2011.10.40.2.9
 -Zerehi, F. and Rezai, M., 2022. Changes in sand dune expansion and wind surface cover in deserts adjacent to wetland ecosystems, Journal of Environmental Erosion Research, 12 (1), 95- 112. Doi: 20.1001.1.22517812.1401.12.1.6.1