Effect of planting the Tamarix ramosissima Ledeb. shrubs on soil temperature and humidity in the western dried-up beds of Lake Urmia

Various measures are considered to stabilize the erodible beds such as planting. Environmental variables in the canopy cover of plants, including soil temperature and moisture, are readily indicators of planting projects success evaluation. Therefore, this study was planned to evaluate the success of Tamarix (Tamarix ramosissima Ledeb.) plantation in modulating modifying soil temperature and moisture indices in the dried-up beds of Lake Urmia. To this endFor this purpose, 15 stands of seven-year-old Tamarix shrubs were randomly systematically selected and their heights and canopy area were measured. Additionally, in four cardinal directions, the top-soil temperature and humidity were also measured in the inside and outside of the under of canopy zones (120 points in total) following the prevailing erosive winds. Afterward, tThe results were then statistically analyzed. Two-way analysis of variance showed significant differences (p<0.01) for soil temperature and humidity among the sampling points (inside and outside of the microclimate zones) and significant differences (p<0.01) for soil temperature among the cardinal directions of sampling. The mean temperature and moisture content of the soil surface in the inside and outside of the Tamarix shrubs canopy were 23.77 and 34.78 °C, and 2.95 and 1.82%, respectively. So that, a significant decrease (p<0.01; 45%) in the soil temperature and a significant increase (p<0.01; 62%) in the soil moisture content were recorded in the inside of the canopy zones in comparison to the outside zones. The findings showed that the selection of Tamarix shrubs with larger canopy and planting with higher density should be considered to improve the environmental conditions in erosion-prone deserts management programs.