The effect of Artemisia aucheri canopy and density on soil properties (Case study: Vavsar Rangeland Kiasar)

Range management involves the study of rangeland ecosystem components and the interrelationships among them specially soil and vegetation. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between soil physical and chemical properties and a rangeland species، Artemisia aucheri. This was done at a site dominated by A. aucheri in Vavsar rangeland in Kiasar، Mazandaran. Systematic-randomized sampling was done using four transects with 100m length. In each transect samples were taken on 10 plots (2×1 m). Then cover percentage and density of A. aucheri were estimated in each plot. At 20 individuals of A. aucheri soil was sampled on four directions and three distances from plant including near basal area، canopy edge (50cm) and outside of plant canopy (80cm). Soil samples were taken from 0-15 cm and 15-30 cm depths. Soil organic carbon، total nitrogen، EC، water (%)، CaCo3 (%)، pH and soil texture were measured. Analysis of variance was done with factorial design based on completely randomized design، and then means comparison by Duncan. The relationship between cover and density of A. aucheri and soil properties were assessed using correlation and multiple regressions. Result showed that percentage of soil humidity، OC، TN، and EC significantly decreased in outside of plant canopy. Caco3 (%) and Clay (%) significantly increased with distance from plant canopy. Density of A. aucheri showed significant correlation with OC (%)، Caco3 (%) and sand while the cover significantly correlated with OC، EC، percentage of sand and silt.