Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

• Maryam Salehi Lande ¹
• Maasoumeh Movaghari ²
• Nafiseh Rang Zan ³
• Leila Khalasi Ahvazi ⁴

¹ Master's degree graduate in Ecohydrology, Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan, Mollasani, Iran

² Asisstant Professor, Department of Nature Engineering, Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan, Mollasani, Iran.

³ Associate Professor, Department of Soil Science, Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan, Mollasani, Iran

⁴ Department of Natural Resources and Watershed Management of Khuzestan Province, Ahvaz, Iran

Abstract

Abstract
Background and objectives
Monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of implementing any type of project, including land reclamation projects, helps relevant managers in making better decisions for future projects. The present research aims to investigate the chemical, physical and hydrological characteristics of planting with species Seidlitzia rosmarinus Boiss ex B., Tamarix passerinoides Delile ex Desv. and Prosopis juliflora SW. DC.  in south and southeast of Ahvaz.
Methodology
Soil samples were collected in four areas (control (no planting), S. rosmarinus, T. passerinoides, and P.juliflora), at two distances (under the crown and outside the crown) and at two depths (0-30 and 30-60 cm). The collected soil samples were transferred to the laboratory and after preparing a composite soil sample; its properties were measured in three replicates. some physical properties (bulk density by clod method, soil aggregate stability by sieve method, penetration resistance by penetrometer), some chemical properties (soil pH using the saturated extract method and a pH meter, electrical conductivity using the saturated extract and EC meter, total soil nitrogen by Kjeldahl method, available phosphorus using the Olsen method with Spectrophotometr, soluble potassium in soil saturation extract by flame photometer, and organic matter by the ignition method), and some hydrological properties (soil moisture by weight percentage) were measured. In addition, the soil infiltration rate was compared by establishing two double cylinders in the control area and the planted area.
Results
 The results of this study showed that  nitrogen percentage and penetration resistance had significant differences between the control area and planting areas. Planting with each species reduced the soil penetration resistance, and the highest value of this index was related to the control area and the lowest value was related to the T. passerinoides and then P.juliflora. In addition, T. passerinoides and P.juliflora increased soil nitrogen content and reduced soil pH compared to the control area. Also, the results of comparing the average soil properties under the canopy and outside the canopy of the plants and in two studied depths showed that under the canopy of the T. passerinoides, the electrical conductivity of the first depth of the soil decreased and its organic carbon increased. Similar also S. rosmarinus, caused a decrease in the electrical conductivity of the soil and an increase in organic carbon under the canopy, with the difference that the increase in organic carbon also occurred outside the canopy. While P.juliflora  increased the electrical conductivity and pH of the soil under the plant crown compared to outside the crown. Also, the results obtained from the Kostiakov infiltration equation comparing the infiltration rate between the control area and the planted area showed that planting in this area increased the infiltration rate by 124% compared to the control area.
Conclucion
In general, the results of this study on the non-native species of P.juliflora showed that despite the effect that this species had on reducing soil penetration resistance and increasing soil nitrogen content compared to the control area, but it also increased electrical conductivity and pH under the plant crown While the two native species, T. passerinoides and S. rosmarinus, led to a decrease in electrical conductivity and increase in soil organic carbon under the plant crown and even outside the plant crown (in the case of S. rosmarinus). Therefore, despite the positive effects of native species on soil properties in this study, planting of these plants is prioritized over the non-native species, P.juliflora.

Keywords

• Environmental impacts
• Khuzestan
• Land reclamation
• P.juliflora
• S. rosmarinus
• T. passerinoides