Abolfazl Rahmati Zadeh; Mostafa Jafari; Mostafa Karimian Eghbal
Volume 21, Issue 4 , March 2015, , Pages 580-590
Abstract
Identifying the border of saline lands is the first step to deal with the problem of salinity in these regions. This research was aimed to investigate the relationship between edaphic, climatic and vegetative factors in each habitat and its extension to other similar areas. In the current research, the ...
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Identifying the border of saline lands is the first step to deal with the problem of salinity in these regions. This research was aimed to investigate the relationship between edaphic, climatic and vegetative factors in each habitat and its extension to other similar areas. In the current research, the vegetation types were detected by Landsat satellite images. For this purpose, a soil profile was dug in each vegetation type and where water was found, samples were analyzed. In addition, a number of soil profiles were dug in areas without vegetation. Results showed that half of the studied vegetation types grew on saline soils and the other half grew on non-saline soils. The soil of the study area was classified as saline and alkaline soils. Seidlitzia sp. and Aeluropus sp. were identified as the most and least resistant halophytes, respectively. Geological formations containing evaporite deposits (Neogen), Qom formation deposits, little precipitation, Qom salt dome, saline water flowing in the region and geomorphological position were the factors increasing the salinity of the study area.
Abolfazl Rahmatizadeh; Mohammad Jafary
Volume 21, Issue 3 , December 2014, , Pages 496-506
Abstract
Due to the population growth and human intervention in nature, desertification has increased drastically. The Masileh watershed is located in the southern highlands of central Alborz. In this study, vegetation condition, the volume of water entering the area, soil chemical characteristics, and ...
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Due to the population growth and human intervention in nature, desertification has increased drastically. The Masileh watershed is located in the southern highlands of central Alborz. In this study, vegetation condition, the volume of water entering the area, soil chemical characteristics, and agricultural production statistics of the region were examined and compared before and after the construction of dams during two periods with an interval of five years. Results showed that since the construction of 15- Khordad dam in 1995, the volume of water entering the Masileh plain has reached zero.The hydrograph study showed that the groundwater level of Masileh plain has dropped on average five meters/year. Due to the lack of flood entering and soil washing, the salt concentration of soil surface layers in most vegetation types has increased. Due to the lack of root access to water, the canopy cover percentage in halophyte vegetation types with shallow roots such as Aeloropus litoralis and Cyperus sp has been reduced up to 100%, and new species such as Halocnemum strobilaceum and Halostachys caspica have been replaced. In terms of agriculture, significant changes have occurred in the composition and type of agricultural crops. Our results clearly showed that the Masileh plain is turning from a productive agricultural area into a real desert.