Relationships between Geopedological Characteristics and Vegetation Cover: A Case Study in the Dagh-Finou Catchment, Hormozgan Province, Iran

Abstract

The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between<br />vegetation, landform and physicochemical properties of soil. At the first terrain<br />map unit were provided using the landsat thematic mapper (TM) satellite images,<br />aerial photograph, topographical and geology map. Field sampling was done in the<br />representative area using plot sampling. 104 plots 100 m2 were sampled in each<br />plot landform parameters (slope, elevation, aspect), percentage of vegetation cover,<br />were measured and stoniness and browsing damage were estimated and one soil<br />sample was taken for measuring EC, pH, and texture. Relationship between<br />vegetation and environmental factors was based on correlation analysis, box plot<br />and Kruskal Wallis test (multiple comparisons). Correlation analysis showed a<br />positive correlation between vegetation cover with slope and elevation and a<br />negative correlation with EC. Based on the Kruskal Wallis test there was<br />significant difference in vegetation cover between different geopedological map<br />units. No significant relationships were found between vegetation cover and other<br />soil properties such as pH and texture.