Aggregate distribution and stability in different land uses of Zrebar Lake Margin

The aim of this study was to assess the effects land use change on soil aggregate stability in marginal lands of Zrebar Lake. Soil samples were collected from the five major land use types including wetland, wetland converted to alfalfa and wheat cultivations, forest and forest converted to vineyard, from the 0-30 and 30-60 cm depth in each land use. Soil aggregate stability was measured on soil samples. The amount of large water stable aggregates in 0-30 cm depth of wetland and forest soils was significantly more than cultivated and vineyard soils. The highest amount of mean weight diameter (MWD) was observed in wetland and forest. Conversion of forest to vineyard caused to 20% decrease in soil large macro aggregates, whereas the of soil microaggregate increased by 11%. Wetland soils converted to alfalfa resulted in 31% decrease of aggregates larger than 2 mm and 15% enrichment of microaggregate in depth of 0-30 cm. Land use change from wetland to wheat cultivation caused a reducation of large macroaggregate by 23% and 16% increase of microaggregates.