Investigation of the Effect of Biological Stabilization Practice on Some Soil Parameters (North East of Iran)

Abstract

One of the ordinary methods to protect, rehabilitate, and enhance an ecosystem<br />function in arid and semi-arid areas of the world is sand dune stabilization using biological<br />practices. Plantation of species on the soil plays a great role in sustainable management of<br />the ecosystem. This research studies the effects of cultivation of Haloxylon ammodendron<br />and Atriplex canescens on physical-chemical characteristics of soil. The study area was<br />Yousef Abad, Neyshabour, located in the northeastern part of Iran in which these two<br />plants species were cultivated 20 years ago. The study area was then compared with a<br />control area near the investigated area. Two different sites within the cultivated area as<br />well as a site in control area were selected for soil sampling. Six samples were taken at<br />each site from depths of 0-20 cm and 20-80 cm, in the sites of H. ammodendron and A.<br />canescens three profiles were randomly digging from under the shrubs canopy and 3 of<br />them were sampled from between the shrubs totaled 36 soil samples. The percentage of<br />clay, silt, sand, electrical conductivity, soil acidity, organic matter content, nitrogen,<br />phosphorus, potassium, calcium, sodium, and calcium carbonate of each sample were<br />measured. The collected data were analyzed and means comparisons were made using<br />LSD by SAS software. The results showed that the three sites had different soil<br />characteristics. H. ammodendron led to increasing soil nutrient factors and soil fertility<br />after 20 years of cultivation but silt particles transportation and wind erosion was reduced<br />in site of A. canescens in this period.