Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Master of Science in Dryland Management, University of Tehran, Iran.
2 Professor, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, I.R.IRAN.
Abstract
In this study, the role of soil properties in making difference between plant communitieswas examined. First, four plant types were identified, including Pteropyrumaucheri-Salsolarigida، Astragalus gossypinus - Acanthophyllum herateens، Amygdalus scoparia – Achilla millefolium and Ephedra intermedia – Erigon capestra, through randomized systematic sampling and field survey in representative area of each type. In each plant type, three 500-meter transects were selected and in each transect, ten plots were placed along each transect. Characteristics of vegetation such as type and percentage of cover, gravel percentage, litter percentage and bare soil percentage were determined within each plot. In addition, in order to study the soil properties, at the beginning and at the end of each transect, a profile was dug and soil samples were taken from the depths of 0-20, 20-80 cm. Soil physical and chemical properties (texture, pH, electrical conductivity, organic matter percentage, gypsum percentage, lime percentage, salts such as sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium, sodium absorption ratio, sodium exchange percentage) were determined in soil laboratory. Then, the role of soil properties in making difference between plant communitieswas determined by using ANOVA statistical analysis, and the key factors making this difference were introduced as sand percentage, organic matter percentage, and electrical conductivity.
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