Journal of Rangeland

Download citation:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:

---

Black Hawthorn and Barberry species cover, predominantly, coverings the rangeland habitats of the northern parts of Iran. The effect of the composition of the canopy (pure and mixed) of these species on soil functional characteristics has not been considered so far. In the present study, five types of canopy composition of Black Hawthorn and Barberry (i.e. pure Black Hawthorn, pure Barberry, Black Hawthorn and Barberry with almost equal canopy cover, Black Hawthorn dominated-stand and Barberry dominated-stand) is considered in the Peydeh Region, western Mazandaran. We studied the effect of these five types on soil biochemical activities and microbial stoichiometry. After identifying the desired canopy composition from the studied species, three sample plots, one-hectare each, were selected from each composition. Inside the plots, five soil samples were taken from the depths of 0-10, 10-20 and 20-30 cm. A total of 45 soil samples were transferred to the laboratory. A part of soil samples was air-dried and passed through a 2-mm sieve for the determination of soil physical and chemical properties. Other parts of soil samples were stored at 4 °C in plastic boxes for the determination of microbial tests. Based on principal component analysis, more clay accumulation, increased organic matter stratification ratio (first to second depth), soil pH, organic carbon and nitrogen lead to increased biochemical activities (nitrogen mineralization, ammonium, nitrate) and microbial stoichiometry (microbial biomass of carbon to carbon, microbial biomass of nitrogen to nitrogen and microbial biomass of phosphorous to phosphorous) of the soil in mixed canopy composition of Black Hawthorn and Barberry (especially with almost equal canopy cover). While pure Black Hawthorn and Barberry types with higher values ​​of organic matter stratification ratio (second to third depth), sand and silt contents had the lowest soil biochemical activities and microbial stoichiometry. According to the results of this study, it can be concluded that the mixture Black Hawthorn and Barberry with almost equal canopy cover can provide better conditions and higher yields for soil performance in rangeland habitats, which can be considered by managers to rehabilitate rangeland lands.

Keywords: Mountain rangelands, canopy composition, microbial activity, soil depth, Western Mazandaran.

Full-Text [PDF 458 kb]   (1873 Downloads)    

Add your comments about this article : Your username or Email:

---

---