Effect of different growth forms on soil surface features (Case study: Semi-steppe rangeland, Golestan National Park)

In order to determination of a rangeland ecosystem function and potential، studying the effect of relation between plant and soil is essential. Soil features directly effect on vegetation. The other hand factors such as plant species، growth form and vegetation density affect on soil features. So، the aim of this research is studying the effect of plant with different growth forms on soil surface features in semi-steppe rangeland in Golestan National Park. Using Landscape Function Analysis (LF (، 11 soil surface features in three growth forms including shrub، wheat grass، forbs and mixture of shrub and wheat grass in five replications were measured. Then according the three indices of stability، permeability and nutrient cycle، for each growth form they were classified. The results showed that shrub form more increase soil surface stability to others forms. Permeability showed no significant differences among the three growth forms. The soil surface of wheat grasses had the higher percentage of nutrient cycle، but the difference with others was not significant. Due to high stability of soil in shrubs and mixture of shrub-wheat grass، these species can be used for breeding operation in semi steppe rangelands.