Volume 16, Issue 3 (Journal of Soil and Plant Interactions 2025)
2025, 16(3): 39-57 |
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1- Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Yasouj, Iran , owliaie@gmail.com
2- Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Yasouj, Iran
3- Department of Forestry, Faculty of Natural Resources, Yasouj University, Yasouj, Iran
2- Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Yasouj, Iran
3- Department of Forestry, Faculty of Natural Resources, Yasouj University, Yasouj, Iran
Abstract: (592 Views)
Background and Objective: The Zagros ecosystem, as one of the most important forest ecosystems in Iran, plays a fundamental role in maintaining ecological balance, safeguarding water resources, and preventing soil erosion. Native tree species such as wild pistachio (Pistacia atlantica Desf.) and wild almond (Prunus orientalis), due to their specific biological traits, make substantial contributions for sustaining soil quality. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of the canopy cover of these species on selected soil physical and chemical properties and nutrient elements beneath the canopy in the Vezg forest area of Yasouj.
Methods: The study was conducted using a factorial design with three soil depths (0–20, 20–40, and 40–60 cm), two tree species (Pistacia atlantica Desf. and Prunus orientalis), and two sampling positions relative to the tree trunk (beneath the canopy and outside the canopy). The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design with four replications. Soil physical and chemical properties and nutrient concentrations were measured using standard analytical procedures.
Results: The canopy cover of Pistacia atlantica Desf and Prunus orientalis in the Vezg forest markedly altered most soil physical, chemical, and nutrient properties. Except for soil texture, all other attributes were significantly influenced by the canopy of both species. Specifically, soil equivalent calcium carbonate content, pH, and copper concentrations decreased, whereas organic carbon, electrical conductivity, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, iron, and manganese increased. Among the nutrients examined, manganese, nitrogen, and zinc exhibited the greatest variations, while phosphorus, copper, and potassium showed the least changes under canopy influence. The effect of Prunus orientalis on enhancing soil nutrient was greater than that of Pistacia atlantica.
Conclusion: Overall, the presence of these species contributes positively to key soil attributes, including organic carbon and nutrient availability. Their decline—particularly under land-use change—may substantially reduce soil quality and heighten the risk of erosion. Furthermore, tree species identity and canopy structure exert distinct and differential influences on specific soil properties.
Methods: The study was conducted using a factorial design with three soil depths (0–20, 20–40, and 40–60 cm), two tree species (Pistacia atlantica Desf. and Prunus orientalis), and two sampling positions relative to the tree trunk (beneath the canopy and outside the canopy). The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design with four replications. Soil physical and chemical properties and nutrient concentrations were measured using standard analytical procedures.
Results: The canopy cover of Pistacia atlantica Desf and Prunus orientalis in the Vezg forest markedly altered most soil physical, chemical, and nutrient properties. Except for soil texture, all other attributes were significantly influenced by the canopy of both species. Specifically, soil equivalent calcium carbonate content, pH, and copper concentrations decreased, whereas organic carbon, electrical conductivity, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, iron, and manganese increased. Among the nutrients examined, manganese, nitrogen, and zinc exhibited the greatest variations, while phosphorus, copper, and potassium showed the least changes under canopy influence. The effect of Prunus orientalis on enhancing soil nutrient was greater than that of Pistacia atlantica.
Conclusion: Overall, the presence of these species contributes positively to key soil attributes, including organic carbon and nutrient availability. Their decline—particularly under land-use change—may substantially reduce soil quality and heighten the risk of erosion. Furthermore, tree species identity and canopy structure exert distinct and differential influences on specific soil properties.
Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Soil health association with soil-plant interactions
Received: 2025/07/15 | Accepted: 2025/09/4 | Published: 2025/09/22
Received: 2025/07/15 | Accepted: 2025/09/4 | Published: 2025/09/22
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Journal of Soil and Plant Interactions by http://jspi.iut.ac.ir is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License which allows users to read, copy, distribute and make derivative works for non-commercial purposes from the material, as long as the author of the original work is cited properly.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License which allows users to read, copy, distribute and make derivative works for non-commercial purposes from the material, as long as the author of the original work is cited properly.
