Physical and Chemical Soil Properties
under Forest Tree Planted in Arid Region of Semnan Province

Hamid Jalilvand ¹, Ali R. Moshki ², S. Mohammad Hoseaini Nasr ¹, Mohamad A. Bahmanyar ³

¹ Department of Forestry, Faculty of Natural Resources, Mazandaran University, Iran
Presenting Author: Dr. Hamid Jalilvand
phone: +98-152-4222981-5, fax: +98-152-4222982
e-mail: hj_458_hj@yahoo.com

² Mazandaran University, Iran

³ Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Mazandaran University, Iran

Abstract

Physical and chemical properties of soil layers under Pinus eldarica, Robinia pseduacacia, and Haloxylone persicum were evaluated. One area beside the plantation area was selected as control area. Soil samples were taken from five layers and different physical and chemical soil tests were performed. Results show that bulk density under the plantation of pine and black locust significantly decreased. Also, pine caused significant increased in percent of stable aggregate than that of two other species and soil under control areas. pH of soil under black locust decreased, but under plantation of tagh (Haloxylone persicum) was increased.
In the first layer, electrical conductivity under the soil of black locust and pine increased due to capillarity phenomena, but they caused Na⁺ and Cl- ions decreased until second to the end of five layers.
Calcium, Mg⁺², and HCO3- ions significantly increased in black locust at the first layer. Under black locust and pine CaCO3 at the first and second layers decreased compare to the other layers. The conclusion of this study showed that plantation of these tree species in arid region of Semnan Province had positively affected on soil chemical properties, but the physical properties doesn’t change until about 34 years after plantation.

Keywords: Soil Properties, Plantation, Pinus eldarica, Robinia pseduacacia, Haloxylone persicum, Arid Region, Semnan