Investigation of the Effect of Biological Stabilization Practice on Some Soil Parameters (North East of Iran)

One of the ordinary methods to protect, rehabilitate, and enhance an ecosystem function in arid and semi-arid areas of the world is sand dune stabilization using biological practices. Plantation of species on the soil plays a great role in sustainable management of the ecosystem. This research studies the effects of cultivation of Haloxylon ammodendronand Atriplex canescens on physical-chemical characteristics of soil. The study area was Yousef Abad, Neyshabour, located in the northeastern part of Iran in which these two plants species were cultivated 20 years ago. The study area was then compared with a control area near the investigated area. Two different sites within the cultivated area as well as a site in control area were selected for soil sampling. Six samples were taken at each site from depths of 0-20 cm and 20-80 cm, in the sites of H. ammodendron and A. canescens three profiles were randomly digging from under the shrubs canopy and 3 of them were sampled from between the shrubs totaled 36 soil samples. The percentage of clay, silt, sand, electrical conductivity, soil acidity, organic matter content, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, sodium, and calcium carbonate of each sample were measured. The collected data were analyzed and means comparisons were made using LSD by SAS software. The results showed that the three sites had different soil characteristics. H. ammodendron led to increasing soil nutrient factors and soil fertility after 20 years of cultivation but silt particles transportation and wind erosion was reduced in site of A. canescens in this period.