Differences in Soil Properties and Vegetation Cover in an Arid Environment Revegetated with Atriplex lentiformis: A Case Study

Abstract

The differences in soil physicochemical properties and vegetation cover were studied in an artificial Atriplex shrubland. Three sites were selected including protected area, grazing area, and a control area with no Atriplex. The dominant plant in the grazing and protected areas was Atriplex lentiformis L. The control area was selected in the vicinity of Atriplex shrubland with the same geological and soil conditions. Three transects (100 m long) were established randomly at each site. Along each transect ten 10 m2 plots were established approximately every 6 m. Soil samples in the control area and under mid-canopy and at canopy gaps in Atriplex shrubland were collected from 0 to 20 (topsoil) and 20–40 cm (subsoil). For topsoil, the lowest bulk density was observed in the mid-canopy in the protected area. It was higher under canopy gaps than under mid-canopy in the grazing area. Soil water content decreased as bulk density increased. Soil salinity in the subsoil was significantly lower in both protected and grazing areas than in the control area. Although soil-ion concentrations were lower in the subsoil of the area revegetated with Atriplex lentiformis, this was much more pronounced in the grazing area. Plant frequency was significantly higher in the protected and grazing areas than in the control area.