Effect of Planting Atriplex seedlings in micro-catchments on attributes of natural vegetation in arid rangelands

Abstract

Forage productivity of degraded rangelands is low and can be increased through development of small structures across the land slope which capture overland flow and store it in the soil profile for subsequent plant use. Establishment of forage shrubs in micro-catchment structures is commonly practiced to boost forage production on degraded rangelands but its impact on natural vegetation is usually overlooked. This study aimed to compare the effect of planting 8-month-old seedlings of Atriplex halimus in contour ridges versus zero intervention on vegetation attributes of degraded rangelands. Six sites planted with Atriplex halimus in contour ridges were selected in Jordan Badia. Attributes of natural vegetation and Atriplex plants were monitored during March, April, and May of 2017 representing early, mid, and late-spring grazing. Percent cover, species richness, fresh, and dry weights of vegetation forage of treated and untreated areas averaged 30.0 and 12.4%, 2.9 and 1.7 species/m2, 1566 and 695 kg/ha, and 383 and 154 kg/ha, respectively. Atriplex browse contributed 15% to total forage production of treated areas. Restoration of degraded arid rangelands through planting forage shrubs in contour ridges created topographic features that helped in harnessing surface runoff, created better growing conditions for vegetation and improved its attributes.