Soil Degradation and Restoration in Southwestern Saudi Arabia through Investigation of Soil Physiochemical Characteristics and Nutrient Status as Indicators

Ahmad A Al-Ghamdi,Nuru Adgaba,Yilma Tadesse,Abdulaziz G Alghamdi

doi:10.3390/su13169169

Abstract

Soil degradation is among the major global concerns resulting in declined soil fertility, loss of soil organic carbon (SOM) and nutrients, and reduced pollinator visitations. The current study was performed to explore soil quality and fertility after restoration in southwestern Saudi Arabia, as new plantation could alter soil properties. A total of 78 soil samples were collected from restored and control (without any restoration) areas from Al-Jenebeen (AJ), Queen Rearing Center (QRC), and Shekiran (SK) from depths of 0–60 cm. Results exhibited that sandy loam was the most dominant textural class in all the studied sites (~60%), followed by sandy clay loam. All the soils were slightly alkaline and nonsaline. Due to restoration practices, the pH was increased in AJ and QRC, while decreased in SK areas. With restoration, EC in AJ and QRC sites decreased, but increased in SK. Restoration practices resulted in reduced SOM in AJ and QRC, while increased in SK. Increased SOM in SK may improve floral traits after restoration. Overall, restored SK possessed higher SOM and nutrients with reduced pH, and, hence, could be a potential source for honeybee flora. Further in depth analyses of restoration activities are needed to explore the long term effects on land rehabilitation.

Highlights

Soil/forest degradation is one of the major problems of agricultural soils worldwide [1].Global soil resources are at risk of degradation due to anthropogenic and natural factors, resulting in lower crop yields [2]
Soil quality is of significant importance for human health and the environment, due to its significant implication for ecosystems
The results exhibited5 that sandy loam was the most dominant textural class in all the studied sites (~60%), followed by sandy clay loam

Summary

Introduction

Soil/forest degradation is one of the major problems of agricultural soils worldwide [1]. Global soil resources are at risk of degradation due to anthropogenic and natural factors, resulting in lower crop yields [2]. 33% of the world land surface has been degraded, resulting in a decline of about 60% of ecosystem services [3,4]. Soil/forest degradation could be elicited by some chemical, physical, biological, and/or ecological processes, which subsequently deteriorate soil quality and fertility [5]. Soil quality is of significant importance for human health and the environment, due to its significant implication for ecosystems. The degradation of soil is disturbing the natural ecological balance, economic growth, and ecosystem sustainability

Methods

Results

Conclusion