Soil physicochemical and biological properties of Christ's thorn (Ziziphus spina-christi L.) in the Izeh

Document Type : Research article

Authors

1 Assistant Prof., Department of Soil and Water Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Ilam University, Ilam, Iran

2 M.Sc. Graduate of Horticultural Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Ilam University, Ilam, Iran

3 M.Sc. Graduate of Soil and Water Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Ilam University, Ilam, Iran

Abstract

Since the long-term sustainability of the natural ecosystem depends on soil quality protection, knowledge about soil conditions in natural lands is effective for their correct management. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of Christ's thorn (Ziziphus spina-christi L.) crown on soil physicochemical and biological characteristics in the Izeh region of Khuzestan province. Soil sampling was carried out from the soil surface (0-20 cm) under the crown and open area (control) by using random transects. In addition, several numbers of soil physical (bulk density, and saturation moisture), chemical (acidity, organic carbon, potassium, and phosphorous) and biological (carbon microbial biomass, basal respiration, and microbial quotient) properties were measured. According to the result, the organic carbon content under the crown was 1.90 percent, which was 23.5% higher than that of the soil outside the crown. The available soil potassium content (233.35 mg kg-1) under Christ's thorn crown was higher than that of open area. However, pH was not shown to be affected by trees, with no significant difference between measured values in free space and under the crown. The highest amounts of carbon and nitrogen microbial biomass (547 and 60.1 mg kg-1, respectively) were found under the canopy. In addition, the highest basal respiration rate was 19.29 mg of carbon dioxide per kg of soil under the tree crown. The microbial quotient of 1.68% was highest under the crown. Based on the results, the metabolic rate showed an inverse trend, with the highest amount was observed outside the tree shadow. Furthermore, the presence of Christ's thorn trees in the study area has resulted in increasing soil fertility and the improvement of soil microbial activities.

Keywords

References

- Aliasgharzad, N., 2011. Laboratory Methods in Soil Biology (translation). University of Tabriz Publications, Tabriz, 546p (In Persian).
- Anderson, J.P.E., 1982. Soil respiration: 831-871. In: Page, A.L., Miller, R.H. and Keeney, D.R. (Eds.). Methods of Soil Analysis, Part 2: Chemical and Microbiological Properties, Second Edition. American Society of Agronomy, Inc., Soil Science Society of America, Inc., Madison, Wisconsin, 1159p.
- Anderson, T.H. and Domsch, K.H., 1990. Application of eco-physiological quotients (qCO2 and qD) on microbial biomasses from soils of different cropping histories. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 22(2): 251-255.
- Ashrafzadeh, M. and Erfanzadeh, R., 2014. Study on the effect of soil chemical characteristics and crown canopy of Ziziphus spina-christi L. on soil seed bank characteristics. Journal of Range and Watershed Management, 66(4): 477-491 (In Persian).
- Beniamino, F., Ponge, J.F. and Arpin, P., 1991. Soil acidification under the crown of oak trees I. Spatial distribution. Forest Ecology and Management, 40(3-4): 221-232.
- Blake, G.R. and Hartge, K.H., 1986. Bulk density: 363-376. In: Klute, A. (Ed.). Methods of Soil Analysis, Part 1: Physical and Mineralogical Methods, Second Edition. American Society of Agronomy, Inc., Soil Science Society of America, Inc., Madison, Wisconsin, 1188p.
- Browicz, K., 1982. Chorology of Trees and Shrubs in South-West Asia and Adjacent Regions, Vol. 1. Państwowe Wydawnictwo Naukowe, Poznań, Poland, 172p.
- Dong, J.Z. and Dunstan, D.I., 2000. Molecular biology of somatic embryogenesis in conifers: 51-87. In: Jain, S.M. and Minocha, S.C. (Eds.). Molecular Biology of Woody Plants. Springer, Dordrecht, Netherlands 524p.
- Gallardo, A., 2003. Effect of tree canopy on the spatial distribution of soil nutrients in a Mediterranean Dehesa. Pedobiologia, 47(2): 117-125.
- Ghazanshahi, J., 2006. Soil and Plant Analysis (translation). Ayizh Publications, Tehran, 272p (In Persian).
- Hasanvand, M.R., Mataji, A. and Akhavan, R., 2015. The effect of different treatments on seed survival and seedlings growth of Zizphus numularia. Renewable Natural Resources Research, 6(4): 1-14 (In Persian).
- Jackson, J. and Ash, A.J., 1998. Tree-grass relationships in open eucalypt woodlands of northeastern Australia: influence of trees on pasture productivity, forage quality and species distribution. Agroforestry Systems, 40(2): 159-176.
- Jenkinson, D.S., 1981. Microbial biomass in soil: measurement and turnover. Soil Biochemistry, 5: 415-471.
- Jenkinson, D.S. and Powlson, D.S., 1976. The effects of biocidal treatments on metabolism in soil—V: A method for measuring soil biomass. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 8(3): 209-213.
- Karimian, N. and Razmi, K., 1990. Influence of perennial plants on chemical properties of arid calcareous soil in Iran. Soil Science, 150(4): 717-721.
- Karimian, V. and Heshmati, G.A., 2018. Evaluation of effects of tree and shrub species (Ziziphus spina cristi, Ziziphus numolaria and Astragalus fasciculifolius) on soil surface indices in winter rangelands (case study: Khashab Stream Rangelands, Southern Kohgiluyeh and Boyerahmad). Iranian Journal of Range and Desert Research, 24(4): 730-741 (In Persian).
- Kenshloo, H., 2001. Forest Plantation in Arid Zones. Published by Research Institute of Forest and Rangeland, Tehran, 528p (In Persian).
- Khormali, F. and Shamsi, S., 2009. Investigation of the quality and micromorphology of soil evolution in different landuses of a loess hillslope of Golestan province, a case study in Ghapan region. Journal of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, 16(3): 14-26 (In Persian).
- Mebratu, D., 1998. Sustainability and sustainable development: historical and conceptual review. Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 18(6): 493-520.
- Moreno, G., Obrador, J.J. and García, A., 2007. Impact of evergreen oaks on soil fertility and crop production in intercropped dehesas. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 119(3-4): 270-280.
- Moscatelli, M.C., Di Tizio, A., Marinari, S. and Grego, S., 2007. Microbial indicators related to soil carbon in Mediterranean land use systems. Soil and Tillage Research, 97(1): 51-59.
- Nelson, R.E., 1982. Carbonate and gypsum: 181-198. In: Page, A.L., Miller, R.H. and Keeney, D.R. (Eds.). Methods of Soil Analysis, Part 2: Chemical and Microbiological Properties, Second Edition. American Society of Agronomy, Inc., Soil Science Society of America, Inc., Madison, Wisconsin, 1159p.
- Nourbakhsh, F., Monreal, C.M., Emtiazy, G. and Dinel, H., 2002. L-asparaginase activity in some soils of central Iran. Arid Land Research and Management, 16(4): 377-384.
- Raiesi, F. and Asadi, E., 2006. Soil microbial activity and litter turnover in native grazed and ungrazed rangelands in a semiarid ecosystem. Biology and Fertility of Soils, 43(1): 76-82.
- Richard, L.A., 1954. Diagnosis and Improvement of Saline and Alkali Soils. United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC, 159p.
- Shaltout, K.H. and Mady, M.A., 1993. Current situation of the raudha's woody plant populations in the central Saudi Arabia. Feddes Repertorium, 104(7-8): 503-509.
- Shukla, M.K., Lal, R., Ebinger, M. and Meyer, C., 2006. Physical and chemical properties of soils under some piñon-juniper-oak canopies in a semi-arid ecosystem in New Mexico. Journal of Arid Environments, 66(4): 673-685.
- Thomas, G.W., 1982. Exchangeable cations: 159-166. In: Page, A.L., Miller, R.H. and Keeney, D.R. (Eds.). Methods of Soil Analysis, Part 2: Chemical and Microbiological Properties, Second Edition. American Society of Agronomy, Inc., Soil Science Society of America, Inc., Madison, Wisconsin, 1159p.
- Zeng, D.H., Hu, Y.L., Chang, S.X. and Fan, Z.P., 2009. Land cover change effects on soil chemical and biological properties after planting Mongolian pine (Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica) in sandy lands in Keerqin, northeastern China. Plant and Soil, 317(1-2): 121-133.
- Zobeiry, M., 2009. Forest Inventory (Measurement of Tree and Stand). Tehran University Press, Tehran, 401p (In Persian).

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics