Investigation of the Variations of Soil Factors under Haloxylon aphyllum Cultivation

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Faculty Member, Faculty of Agriculture, Rasht Islamic Azad University, Rasht, Iran

2 Professor, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran

Abstract

Determination of the relationships between soil and plant cover indispensible in the in planning and management
of the arid regions, the aim being to revitalize plant cover, conserve soil and to combat desertification. Among factors
affecting plant cover, particularly in arid and semiarid areas are soil traits. During the present study, the effect of
Haloxylon aphyllum Cultivation on soil physiochemical properties (at different depths) was investigated. A split plot
design was employedin the study, in which cultivated and non-cultivated areas were considered as inter-related
factors, whereas soil depths of(0-10), (10-30) and (30-60) cm as intra- related factors. Soil texture, EC, pH, nitrogen,
phosphorous and organic matter was assessed. Soluble salts of Na, Ca, Mg, Cl, K, carbonate and bicarbonate were
measured. Haloxylon aphyllum has led to a significant difference between Ca, Mg and bicarbonate in the first layer as
compared with the third. A significant difference has been observed between nitrogen in the first soil layer in
comparison with that in the second layer. Significant differences were also observed among all Haloxylon aphyllum
cultivated soil layers as to the contents of Soluble K, absorbable K as well as phosphorous.

Keywords

Desert
Volume 14, Issue 2 - Serial Number 2
December 2009
Pages 114-117

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