Investigation on Effects of Environmental and Soil Factors on Establishment of Vegetation Types (Case Study: Sabzdasht, Bafgh)

Abstract

This research was conducted to investigate the relationships between soil<br />(organic matter, potassium, phosphorous, sodium, fine gravel, soil texture, EC, lime,<br />gypsum, nitrogen) and environmental (elevation, slope) factors with distribution of<br />vegetation types in rangelands of Sabzdasht, located in Bafgh, Yazd province at 2012. For<br />this purpose, four vegetation types were selected as follows: Artemisia sieberi; Artemisia<br />sieberi, Stipa barbata, Eurotia ceratoides; Dorema ammoniacum, Artemisia sieberi,<br />Eurotia ceratoides; and Hammada salicornica. Minimal area was determined using nested<br />plots. Afterward, vegetation factors were measured and five soil profiles were dug<br />randomly in minimal area. In each profile, data for depths of 0-10 and 10-80 cm were<br />recorded. Principal component analysis was applied to analyze the data. Results showed<br />that soil texture, potassium, phosphorous, EC and lime had the most impact on variation<br />and distribution of vegetation types.