Influence of Atriplex canescens (Pursh) nutt species on soil properties and nutrient content of dominant plant species in a semi-arid region

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Associate Professor, Malayer University, Malayer, Iran

2 Graduate Student of Rangeland Management, Malayer University, Malayer, Iran

Abstract

The use of halophyte species is a suitable application for reclamation of saline soils. Atriplex canescens is considered an adaptable and productive plant species in Iran. Various soil and vegetation properties were investigated to study the effects of A. canescens plantation and rangeland exclosure on soil and vegetation characteristics. Soil organic matter (SOM), EC, pH, and bulk density (SBD) values were significantly higher than those of other areas. The highest values of electrical conductivity (EC) and SOM were reported as 11.82 dS m-1 and 0.51 % in the sub-canopy treatment. The maximum and the minimum values of soil pH were reported as 9.92 and 7.11 in control and sub-canopy treatments, respectively. Compared with control, various soil nutrient contents (Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Na, and Zn) were also remarkably higher in sub-canopy treatment. The highest quantitative amount of Na was reported as 185.93 mg kg-1 in the sub-canopy soil and the lowest (173.4 mg kg-1) was seen in the control region. As observed in the Tall Wheatgrass, prevalent weed associated to the shrubs, similar trends were seen in prolin concentration, catalase (CAT), and peroxidase (POD) enzyme activity and the maximum contents were seen in sub-canopy treatments. The changing trend of total chlorophyll content was unlike the changing trend of prolin, Cat, and POD. However, the highest total chlorophyll concentration was reported in the control region treatment (8.32 mg g-1 FW). In general, A. canescens had positive effects on the soil and vegetation characteristics of the study area.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

 Abbasi Khalaki, M., Jafary, M., Tavili, A., and Moameri. M. 2015. Investigation of Atriplex-induced soil chemical changes (Case study: Hossein Abad Hapeshloo). Journal of Range and Watershed Management. 67 (4), 549-558.
Aeby, H. 1984. Catalase in vitro. Methods Enzymology. 105, 121–126.
Ahmadi, A., Toranjzar, H., Gomarian, M., and Pagnameh. S. 2018. Studying the effect of white saxaul (Haloxylon persicum) and fourwing saltbush (Atriplex canescens) plantation on soil physico-chemical properties in rangelands of Mallard-Zarandiyeh. Journal of Plant Ecophysiology. 9 (32), 225-235.
Akhzari, D. 2015. Response of glycyrrhiza glabra L. to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and water stress. Journal of Essential Oil Bearing Plants. 18 (4), 992-1002.
Alharby, H.F., Colmer, T. D., and Barrett-Lennard. E. G. 2014. Salt accumulation and depletion in the root-zone of the halophyte Atriplex nummularia Lindl. influence of salinity, leaf area and plant water use. Journal of Plant and Soil. 382, 31-41.
Arévalo, J. R., García, J. E., Mellado, M., Encina-Domínguez, J. A., Dueñez, J., and Suárez-Hernández, E. 2020. Impact of 25 years of grazing exclusion and shrub removal on plant community structure and soil characteristics in a xerophytic rangeland. Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research. 18(1), e0302.
Arnon, D. 1949. Copper enzymes in isolated chloroplast. Polyphenol oxidase in Beta vulgaris. Plant. Physiol 24, 1-15.
Ashraf, M., and Foolad, M.R. 2007. Roles of glycine betaine and proline in improving plant abiotic stress resistance. Environmental and Experimental Botany. 59 (2), 206-216.
Azarnivand, H., Junaidi Jafari, H., Zare Chahooky, M.A., Jafari, M., and Niko, S. 2009.The effect of grazing on carbon sequestration and storage of nitrogen in ranges with Artemisia sieberi species. Journal of Range Management. 3(4), 590-609.
Bates, L., Waldren, R. P., and Tear, I. P. 1973. Rapid determination of free proline for water stress studies. Plant Soil. 39, 205-207.
Bazrafshan, O., Zamani, H., and Shekari. M. 2020. A copula-based index for drought analysis in arid and semi-arid regions of Iran. Natural Resource Modeling. 33 (1), e12237. 
Boudjabi, S., and Chenchouni, H. 2022. Soil fertility indicators and soil stoichiometry in semi-arid steppe rangelands. CATENA. 210(3), 105910.
Brummerloh, A., and Kuka, K. 2023. The Effects of Manure Application and Herbivore Excreta on Plant and Soil Properties of Temperate Grasslands—A Review. Agronomy. 13 (12), 3010.
Dane, J.H., and Topp, G.C. 2002. Methods of Soil Analysis. Part 4: Physical Methods. Soil Science Society of America. Madison, USA.
1744 p.
Davis, A.M. 1979. Forage quality of Kochia prostrata compared with three browse species. Journal of Agronomy. 71, 822-824.
El-Dakak, R.A., Badr, R.H., Zeineldein, M.H., Swedan, E. A., El-Batrawy, O., Hassaballah, A. F., and Hassan, I. A. 2023. Effect of chilling and salinity stress on photosynthetic performance and ultrastructure of chloroplast in faba beans (Vicia faba L.) leaves. Rendiconti Lincei. 34, 447–456.
Ghazavi, R., and Vali, A. 2013. The Effect of Planted Saltbush (Atriplex lentiformis) on Edaphic Factors in Grazed and Ungrazed Area. ECOPERSIA. 1 (2), 113-122.
Golluscio, R.A., Austin, A.T., Garsia Martinez, G.C., Gonzalez-polo, M., Sala, O.E., and Jackson, R.B. 2009. Sheep Grazing Decreases Organic Carbon and Nitrogen Pools in the Patagonian Steppe: Combination of Direct and Indirect Effects. Ecosystems. 12, 686-697.
Gupta, P.K. 2000. Soil, Plant, Water, and Fertilizer Analysis. Agrobios, New Delhi, India. 146 p.
Haghighi, S., Akhzari, D., Attaeian, B., and Bashir Gonbad, M. 2018. The effect of drought in the source area of dust storms on vegetation change (case study: western parts of Iran). Environmental Resources Research. 6 (2), 195-200.
Hanta, A., Jafari, M., Zargham, N. A., and Zare Chahoki, M. A. 2005. The effect of Atriplex canescens cultivation on the soil of Zarand Saveh Rangelands. Journal of Research and Development in Natural Resources. 68, 15-21.
Hui, D., and Jackson, R.B. 2005. Geographic and Interannual Variability in Biomass Partitioning in Grassland Ecosystems: A Synthesis of Field data. New Phytologist. 169, 85-93.
Jafari, M., Chalak Haghighi, M., Habibian, H., and Azarnivand. H. 2003. Investigating some effects of Atriplex lentiformis on soil characteristics in cultivated environments. Journal of Natural Resources of Iran. 56 (3), 301-307.
Javadi, S.A., Jafari, M., Azarnivand, H., and Alavi, S.J. 2005. An investigation of the Grazing Intensity effects on variations of Soil Organic Matter and Nitrogen in Lar Rangelands. Journal of Natural Resources. 58(3), 711 -718.
Kar, M., and Mishra, D. 1976. Catalase, peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase activities during rice leaf senescence. Plant Physiology. 578, 315-319.
Khalkhali, S. A., Goudarzi, M., and Jafari, M. 2005. A study on the interchange effects between soil properties and plant characteristics of Fourwing Saltbush (Atriplex canescens) in two different climatic conditions. Desert. 10 (2), 311-325.
Kıran, S., and Baysal Furtana, G. 2023. Responses of Eggplant Seedlings to Combined Effects of Drought and Salinity Stress: Effects on Photosynthetic Pigments and Enzymatic and Non-Enzymatic Antioxidants. Gesunde Pflanzen. 75 (6), 2579-2590.
Koç, E., and Karayiğit, B. 2023. Plant Secondary Metabolites in Stress Tolerance. In: Hasanuzzaman, M. (eds) Climate-Resilient Agriculture, Vol 1. Springer, Cham. pp: 379–433.
Lindsay, W. L., and Norvell, W. A. 1978. Development of DTPA test for zinc, iron, manganese, and copper. Soil Science Society of America Journal. 42, 421-428.
Liu, N., Zhang, Y., Chang, S.H., Kan, H., and Lin, L. 2012. Impact of Grazing on Soil Carbon and Microbial Biomass in Typical Steppe and Desert Steppe of Inner Mongolia. Plos One 7(6), 1-9.
 Mishra, N., Jiang, C., Chen, L., Paul, A., Chatterjee, A., and Shen, G. 2023. Achieving abiotic stress tolerance in plants through antioxidative defense mechanisms. Frontiers in Plant Science. 14, 1110622.
Mohebbi, A., Zandi Esfahan, E., and Eftekhari, A.R., 2016. Effects of Atriplex canescens on soil properties and organisms' activities under grazing and exclosure conditions (Case study: Shahriar Rangelands). Scientific Journal of Desert Ecosystem Engineering. 5(13), 57-66.
Nemati, N. 1977. Shrub transplantation for Range improvement in Iran. Journal of Range Management. 30(2): 148-151.
Nicolas-Espinosa, J., Garcia-Ibañez, P., Lopez-Zaplana, A., Yepes-Molina, L., Albaladejo-Marico, L., and Carvajal, M. 2023. Confronting Secondary Metabolites with Water Uptake and Transport in Plants under Abiotic Stress. Internation Journal of Molecular Science. 24, 2826.
Nikzad, S., Mirmohammady Maibody, S.A.M., Ehtemam, M.H., Golkar, P., and Mohammadi, S.A. 2023. Response of seed yield and biochemical traits of Eruca sativa Mill. to drought stress in a collection study. Scientific Reports. 13, 11157.
Rahimizadeh, A., Farzadmehr, J., Rostagi, A. A., and Ramezani Gask, M. 2010. Comparison of effects of planting Haloxylon spp. and Atriplex spp. on the characteristics of vegetation cover and ranglands soil (A case study: Salemabad, Sarbishe, Iran). Renewable Natural Resources Research. 1(2), 1-13.
Reeder, J.D., Schuman, G.E., Morgan, J.A., and Lecain, D.R. 2004. Response of organic and inorganic carbon and nitrogen to long-term grazing of the short-grass steppe. Environmental Management. 33, 458-495.
Richard, H. L., and Donald, L. S. 1996. Carbonate and gypsum, in: Sparks, D.L. (Ed.), Methods of Soil Analysis. Part 3 Chemical Methods, SSSA Book Ser. 5. 3., Soil Science Society of America, Madison, USA, pp. 437-474.
Schipper, L.A., and Sparling, G.P. 2000. Performance of soil condition indicators across taxonomic groups and land uses. Soil Science Society of America Journal. 64:300–311
Sepehry, A., Akhzari, D., Pessarakli, M., and Barani, H. 2012. Studying the effects of salinity, aridity and grazing stress on the growth of various halophytic plant species (Agropyron elongatum, Kochia prostrata and Puccinellia distans). World Applied Sciences Journal. 17 (10), 1278-1286.
Talaat, N.B., Mahmoud, A.W.M., and Hanafy, A.M.A. 2023. Co-application of salicylic acid and spermine alleviates salt stress toxicity in wheat: growth, nutrient acquisition, osmolytes accumulation, and antioxidant response. Acta Physiol Plant. 45 (1), 1-15.
Urmi, T.A., Islam, M.M., Zumur, K.N., Abedin, M.A., Haque, M.M., Siddiqui, M.H., Murata, Y., and Hoque, M.A. 2023. Combined effect of salicylic acid and proline mitigates drought stress in rice (Oryza sativa L.) through the modulation of physiological attributes and antioxidant enzymes. Antioxidants. 12, 1438.
Voloshina, M., Rajput, V.D., Chernikova, N., Minkina, T., Vechkanov, E., Mandzhieva, S., Voloshin, M., Krepakova, M., Dudnikova, T., Sushkova, S., and Plotnikov, A. 2023. Physiological and Biochemical Responses of Solanum lycopersicum L. to Benzo[a]pyrene Contaminated Soils. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 24, 3741.
Waseem, M., Liu, P., and Aslam M.M. 2023. Editorial: Salinity and drought stress in plants: understanding physiological, biochemical and molecular responses. Frontiers in Plant Science 14, 1277859.
West, N.E., and Ibrahim, K. L. 1983. Soil Vegetation Relationship in the shade Scale Zone of South Utah. Ecology 49: 445-456.
Xiao, L., Leng, M., Greenwood, P., Zhao, R., Xie, Z., You, Z., and Liu, J. 2024. Temporal and vertical dynamics of carbon accumulation potential under grazing-excluded grasslands in China: The role of soil bulk density. Journal of Environmental Management. 351, 119696.
Environmental Resources Research
Volume 13, Issue 1
July 2025
Pages 93-103

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics