Introduction of Suitable Rangeland Species in Habitat Soil Diversity and Different Forms of Marl Land Erosion in Semirom City

Document Type : Research

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Soil Conservation and Watershed Management Department, Isfahan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Isfahan, Iran

2 Associate Professor, Soil Conservation and Watershed Management Research Institute (SCWMRI), Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Introduction and Objective
Marl lands are very sensitive to erosion in arid and semi-arid regions and are one of the most important sources of sediment production. Research has shown that there is a relationship between the geological characteristics of marls and different forms of erosion. In some marl formations, rangeland plant species have grown and stabilized which causes erosion control and soil stability. In order to better understand the status of these ecosystems, this study was conducted to identify the established plant species on marl lands and investigate the relationship between vegetation and physical and chemical properties of marl soil in three types of surface, rill and gully erosion in Semirom region.
Materials and Methods
Semirom is one of the marl regions that was selected for the current study in the classification and determination of marl erodibility indices of Isfahan province. In order to evaluate the erosion condition in three forms of surface, rill and gully erosion, BLM (Bureau of Land Management) form was completed in the same marl units and areas without vegetation cover. In the next step, three soil samples were collected from 0-20 cm depth in three repetitions in marl units including three forms of erosion. Physical and chemical soil properties including texture, EC, N, P, K, SAR, OC, CEC, CaSO4, pH, T.N.V and CaCO3 were measured. For vegetation studies in the study area, after preparing the floristic list of plant species, vegetation characteristics including canopy cover percentage and density per plant species, as well as the percentage of gravel and litter were measured and recorded. The statistical analysis of the data was done as a completely random design using SAS software and the averages of soil properties were compared according to the Least Significant Difference (LSD). Correlation analysis between soil and vegetation characteristics was also done by R statistical software.
Results and Discussion 
The results showed that in terms of erodibility, Marl lands with vegetation cover, had a better condition than without vegetation. The soil in the gully erosion was in better conditions in terms of nitrogen, phosphorus and organic matter and had better vegetation than the other two types of erosion. The results of correlation between physical and chemical soil properties and vegetation showed that the canopy cover factor was 95% and 86% correlated with the percentage of gypsum and the percentage of sand, respectively. The dominant species which showed the most protection capacity against erosion in surface, Rill and Gully erosions were Astragallus cephalantus, Cousinia cylindracea and Elymus gentry with 34.2, 33.3 and 22.05 percent of the highest combination of density and canopy cover, respectively. In terms of growth form, in all three types of erosion, forbs had the highest percentage of density and canopy cover.
Conclusion and Suggestions
The results of current research could be considered as a novel achievement in order to prevent soil erosion through establish appropriate species in marl lands with similar climatic conditions.

Keywords


Aazami F, Heydari M. 2018. Response of Vegetation Composition and Diversity to Degradation to Soil Physical, Chemical and Biological Properties, Zagros Forest Ecosystems. Journal of Plant Research (Iranian Journal of Biology). 31(2): 221-234. (In Persian). https://doi.org/20.1001.1.23832592.1397.31.2.2.0.
Ahmadpour M. 2014. Effect of Some Native Grass Species on Soil Conservation of Marl Lands of Loshan. Ms Thesis. Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Guilan. 155 p. (In Persian).
Alatorre LC, Beguería S, Vicente-Serrano S. 2011. Evolution of Vegetation Activity on Vegetated, Eroded, and Erosion Risk Areas in the Central Spanish Pyrenees, Using Multitemporal Landsat Imagery. Earth Surface Processes and landforms, 36(3): 309-319.  https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.2038.
Alonso E, Pinyol NM. 2015. Slope Stability in Slightly Fissured Clay Stones and Marls. Landslides, 12(4): 643-656. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-014-0526-5.
Asgari S, peravan HR, Shadfar S, Mohamadpoor M, Tahmasebi M. 2022. The Effect of Pasture Vegetation on Marl Formations in the Ilam city Limits. Applied Research in Geographical Sciences, 22 (67):137-151. (In Persian). https://doi.org/10.52547/jgs.22.67.137.
Bagheriankalat A. 2009. Investigation of the Relationship Between Physical And Chemical Properties of Soil and Vegetation on Marl Formations in Sabzevar Region. Final Report of the Research Project. Soil Conservation and Watershed Management Research Institute. 105 p. (In Persian).
Bahrouji F, Peyrowan HR. 2020. An Accurate and Practical Analysis for Neogene-Marls in Central Regions of Iran. Indian Journal of Science and Technology, 13(43): 4417-4433. (In Persian). https://doi.org/ 10.17485/IJST/v13i43.1146.
Bierba P, Wündsch M, Michalzik B. 2014. The Impact of Vegetation on the Stability of Dispersive Material Forming biancane Badlands in Val d'Orcia, Tuscany, Central Italy. Catena, 113: 260-266. https://doi.org/ 10.1016/j.catena.2013.08.003.
Cantón Y, Solé-Benet A, Vente J, Boix-Fayos C, Calvo-Cases A, Asensio C, Puigdefábregas J. 2011. A Review of Runoff Generation and Soil Erosion Across Scales in Semiarid South-Eastern Spain. Journal of Arid Environments, 75(12): 1254-1261. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaridenv.2011.03.004.
Cardoso R, Alonso E. 2009. Degradation of Compacted Marls. A Micro Structural Investigation. Soils and Founsitions, 49(3): 315-328. https://doi.org/10.3208/sandf.49.315.
Carriere A, Le Bouteiller C, Tucker GE, Klotz S, Naaim M. 2020. Impact of Vegetation on Erosion: Insights from the Calibration and Test of a Landscape Evolution Model in Alpine Badland Catchments. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 45(5): 1085-1099.  https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.4741.
Darvishzadeh A. 1991. Geology of Iran. Danesh Emrooz Publishing, Tehran. 274 p. (In Persian).
Ebrahim-Zadeh S.A, Aliasgharzad N, and Najafi N.A. 2014. Impressionability of Some Soil Ecophysilogical Indices by Land Use Changes in Suldoz Plain (Naqadeh, West Azarbaijan). Journal of Agricultural Science and Sustainable Production. 23(4):41-56. (In Persian).
Elert K, Azañón JM, Nieto F. 2018. Smectite Formation Upon Lime Stabilization of Expansive Marls. Applied Clay Science, 158: 29-36. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clay.2018.03.014.
Feizi M, Alijani V, Jaberalansar Z, Khodagholi M, Shirani K. 2017. Ecological Regions of Iran, Vegetatin Types of Esfahan Province. Institute of Forest and Rangelands. 289 p. (In Persian).
Feiznia S, Sharifi F. 2003. Sensitivity of Geology Formation to Erosion in Chandabe Basin of Varamin Pajouhesh and Sazandegi, 16(4): 33-38. (In Persian).
Foroumadi M, Vaezi AR. 2017. Physical Degradation and Particle Detachment Capacity of Rill in Relation to Rainfall Intensity and Raindrop Impact in a Marl Soil. Journal of Water and Soil Science, 21(2): 263-277. (In Persian). https://doi.org/ 10.18869/acadpub.jstnar.21.2.263.
Gallart F, Marignani M, Pérez-Gallego N, Santi E, and Maccherini S. 2013. Thirty Years of Studies on Badlands, from Physical to Vegetational Approaches. A Succinct Review. Catena, 106, pp.4-11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2012.02.008.
Hosseini M. 2014. Effect of Selected Rangeland Plant Species and Parent Materials on Vertical Distribution of Major Soil Physical, Chemical, and Clay Mineralogical Properties in Kuhrang Area. Ms Thesis. Faculty of Natural Resources, Isfahan University of Technology. 122 p. (In Persian).
Lal R. 2015. Restoring Soil Quality to Mitigate Soil Degradation. Sustainability, 7(5): 5875-5895.  https://doi.org/10.3390/su7055875.
Martínez-Murillo JF, Nadal-Romero E, Regüés D, Cerdà A, Poesen J. 2013. Soil Erosion and Hydrology of the Western Mediterranean Badlands Throughout Rainfall Simulation Experiments: A review. Catena, 106: 101-112. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2012.06.001.
Moradi E, Heshmati G, Dehghani A. 2018. Analysis of Plants Patches Spatial Pattern and Dynamics in Three Forage Capacities (Case study: Semirom Mountain Rangelands). Rangeland, 12(2): 154-168. (In Persian). https://doi.org/ 20.1001.1.20080891.1397.12.2.3.9.
Mozaffararian V. 2012. Identification of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of Iran. Farhang Moasevr Press, Tehran.1444p. (In Persian).
Nojavan M, Mohamad A, Gholami V. 2012. Determination of Erosion Intensity Using Fargas and BLM Models Case: Bandar Watershed. Geography and Development, 29(10):119-130. (In Persian).
Sakoti R. 2019. Investigation of the Role of Rangeland Species Located on Marl Formations in Erosion Control, A Case Study of Khoy City. Final Report of the Research Project. Soil Conservation and Watershed Management Research Institute. 112 p. (In Persian).
Sobhani B, Ahmadyan M, Jahanbakhsh AS. 2019. The Impacts of Climate Change on Growth Period and Water Requirement of the Apple Tree (Case Study: Semirom and Urmia, Iran). Physical Geography Research Quarterly, 51(3): 529-544. (In Persian). https://doi.org/10.22059/JPHGR.2019.273067.1007327.
Sokouti O, Peyrvan HR, Nikkami D, Mahdian M. 2015. Investigation on Erodibility and Soil Loss of Marly Derived Soils in West Azerbaijan Province, Iran. Watershed Engineering and Management, 7(4): 379-388. (In Persian). https://doi.org/10.22092/ijwmse.2015.103084.
Soleimanpoor M, Peyrovn MR, Hosseini M. Ghahari G, Hatami A, Keshavarzi H. 2020. Establishment and Study of Vegetation Scan of Marl Formations to Determine their Conservation Role in the West of Maharloo Watershed. Final Report of the Research Project. Soil Conservation and Watershed Management Research Institute.120 p. (In Persian).
Vannoppen W, De Baets S, Keeble J, Dong Y, Poesen J. 2017. How do Root and Soil Characteristics Affect the Erosion-Reducing Potential of Plant Species. Ecological Engineering, 109: 186-195. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2017.08.001.
Whit D, Hood CS. 2004. Vegetation Patterns and Environmental Gradients in Tropical Dry Forests of the Northern Yucatan Peninsula. Vegetation Science, 15(2):151-160.  https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1654-1103.2004.tb02250.x.
Yue G, Zhao L, Wang Z, Zhang L, Zou D, Niu L, Zhao Y, and Qiao Y. 2017. Spatial Variation in Biomass and Its Relationships to Soil Properties in the Permafrost Regions Along the Qinghai-Tibet Railway. Environmental Engineering Science, 34(2), pp.130-137. https://doi.org/10.1089/ees.2014.0504.
Zengru W, Guojing Y, Shuhua Y, Zhen W, Jianyue G, Xiaobo H, and Baisheng Y. 2012. Different Response of Vegetation to Permafrost Change in Semi-Arid and Semi-Humid Regions in Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau. Environmental Earth Sciences. 66(3):985-991. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-011-1405-1.
Zhang j, Dong TY. 2010. Factors Affecting Species Diversity of Plant Communities and the Restoration Process in the Loess Area of China. Ecological Engineering, 36(3):345-350. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2009.04.001.