Effects of conducting range management plans on some soil properties in summer and winter rangelands of Markazi province

Given the role of rangelands in soil conservation and soil fertility, strengthening the soil of rangelands could be achieved by range management plans (RMP). Therefore, in this research, 15 summer rangelands and 16 winter rangelands with RMP were investigated to determine the effects of range management plans on some soil properties. In each rangeland with RMP and in each vegetation type, three soil profiles were dug and soil samples were collected at two different depths. Beside each rangeland with a RMP, a rangeland with a same vegetation type and without RMP was selected for comparison and sampling was conducted. Organic matter, nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus were measured in the laboratory. The data from two different range management types were analyzed in an independent sample T test using SPSS software. The results showed that, in summer rangelands, range management plans could increase the amount of some factors like phosphorus, nitrogen, and organic matter, while it had no significant impact on some other factors, including the amount of potassium and increasing the depth of horizon A. However, in the winter rangelands, the plans had no significant effect on strengthening the soil of rangelands and it seems that due to the slow changes of soil in arid areas, more time is needed to make significant changes in the soil.