Vegetation of Saline Regions of Fars Province, Iran
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Owfi, Vegetos 2017, 30:4 Plant 10.5958/2229-4473.2017.00192.6 or Re F s y e t a e i r c c h Vegetos- An International o S E 8 8 Journal of Plant Research std. 19 Research Article a SciTechnol journal [10]. Annual rainfall of Iran is 260 millimeters and more than 90% Vegetation of Saline Regions of of country is in arid and semiarid regions [11]. Also, in many parts of Iran, evaporation is greater than rainfall, which reaches even up to Fars Province, Iran 80 times in the deserts [12]. The geological structure of some regions Owfi RE* of Iran has a saline bed rock that not only makes the saline region, but also makes saline groundwater and running water in the region. On the other hand, lack of proper irrigation contributes to salinity in Abstract agricultural areas of the country. Considering these factors, there is about "18 million hectares of saline land in Iran that covers 10 percent Vegetation in saline areas of Fars region was contemplated, for of the country [12]. Halophyte Communities of Iran are still among this reason; soil consider reports were set up in 31 focuses in the region, having recognized saline zones, vegetation of them was the most poorly known vegetation units in Iran. This is mainly due to examined. Saline areas were significant accounting for 10.1% of the absence of up-to-date informations on the halophytes and interest whole area, which located in south and southeast of province and of most of botanists and ecologist in the rich flora of low-salt or salt- had moderate winter and very hot summer with rainfall of 100-200 free habitats [13]. millimeters. Largest saline area was in lands of class II followed by those in class III. Such plants as stragalus sp and tamarix sp were Fars province has an area of 13/329/900 hectares that accounts found in all saline areas of Fars while some species like Holtemia for 8.1 percent of the area of country, of which 1/760/000 hectares persica were found in few areas. By and large, plants of saline is saline land, that is equal to 10.1 of a percent of the total area of the ranges of Fars are critical and merit examine for soil conservation, province [12]. It has three climatic parts: the North and North West sustenance and medication applications, modern application and has mountainous climate with abundant rain and snow of more than above all as fields and to deliver meat. 400 millimeters and sparse forests with species of Amygdalus scoparia, Keywords Ficus johannis, Juniperus excelsa, Juglans regia, Ziziphus spina-christi, Pistacia atlantica, Crataegus azarolus. Central areas with mild winter Saline regions-Fars province and hot and dry summer, with rainfall of 200 to 400 millimeters with vegetation of Glycyrrhiza glabra, Alhagi camelorum, Acanthophyllum Introduction sp, Gundelia sp, Achillea santolina, Prangos ferulacea. South and South-East that has mild winter and very hot summer and rainfall of Saline soil is found in many parts of the world. Many arid and 100 to 200 millimeters and vegetation of Artemisia sieberi, Astragalus semiarid regions in the world contain soil and water resources that sp, Tamarix sp, Peganum harmala, Glycyrrhiza glabra, which are have high salinity rates not suitable for most common economic crops located most saline areas of the province in this section. The total [1]. Large-scale soil salinization has mostly occurred in arid and semi- area of forests and pastures is 9/803/273, of which 8/600/00 include arid regions [2]. These are saline because of high evaporation, low steppe, semi-steppe and semi-desert rangelands, high mountains, dry rainfall, topography, improper water irrigation and saline bed rock forests and saline rangelands. About 10 million animals exist in this [3]. Their drainage is improper and they have much salt. Their color is province. Figure 1 shows the position of Fars Province in Iran. usually bright [4]. Organic matters are low in them [5]. Their physical structure is friable and shell-like. Groundwater level is usually near The first comprehensive study about soils in Iran was done in surface at depth of 1-3 m, which is often very salty [6]. Lands where 1964 by Madan Laal Dewan and Jalal Famouri, with using of results of saline soils are located are usually flat or almost flat and in some cases, soil studies and classification of lands and soil fertility also collected are lowland and they are rarely found on land with a slope of more data and results of study of vegetation, agriculture, meteorology and than one percent. These soils are unsuitable for farming because geology. Then published under the title of the soils of Iran by FAO of the stress that is caused by high amount of Sodium Chloride in [12]. In addition, studies have been conducted in other regions by plants. In the salty soils due to the increase in the soluble salts, the organizations like Water and soil general office, pedology and soil fertility institute, etc. since 1951, which are published as reports. water absorption via osmotic processes is disrupted [7]. Reclamation of these soils is costly and in some cases impossible, but some of Iran has large saline areas due certain geographical reasons with them are modifiable. According to Pedology science, these soils have 10 percent of its area, Fars province is also covered by these regions saturated electrical conductivity (Ece) of more than 4 ds/m and with 10 percent of its area [12]. These regions have special plants that Sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) is less than 13 [8]. can be used as pastures, and drug, and are generally economically valuable. So, special studies for proper use of them is required. Iran as a whole is a semiarid country [9]. In Iran, due to climatic According to special ecosystem of these regions, proper use of them conditions, there is suitable ground for the creation of saline soils must be considered. Procedure *Corresponding author: Reza E. Owfi, Faculty of Natural Resources, First, preparation and interpretation of aerial photos: All needed Department of Rangeland Management, Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural 1 equipment such as aerial photos and terrain plan to a scale of Resources University, Sari, Iran, E-mail: [email protected] 50.000 and field equipment were procured and necessary information Received: August 04, 2017 Accepted: August 21, 2017 Published: August 28, 2017 related to studies field such as statistics meteorology, hydrology, All articles published in Vegetos: International Journal of Plant Research are the property of SciTechnol, and is protected by International Publisher of Science, copyright laws. Copyright © 2017, SciTechnol, All Rights Reserved. Technology and Medicine Citation: Owfi RE (2017) Vegetation of Saline Regions of Fars Province, Iran. Vegetos 30:4. doi: 10.5958/2229-4473.2017.00192.6 Figure 1: The position of Fars Province in Iran. geology, native vegetation and agricultural vegetation were collected. by soil series of soil studies from adjacent lands. Based on the USDA The stereoscope and additionally techniques for physiography were taxonomy method, they were categorized at family level and at large utilized given land shape, incline, geography, disintegration, waste, subgroup level using FAO method. topography, vegetation and setting shade of airborne photos were Also within the area of study, we identifed plant species and a utilized to decipher them and the underlying arrangement was number of plant species that were identified in the field were sent to readied. the Laboratory of Botany. Then of the whole class profile, samples were Second, field and laboratory work: Using aerial photographs taken and preliminary tests were done to determine the necessary soil interpreted as mentioned above and initial topographic maps of scale pH, EC, the amount of calcium carbonate, gypsum, etc., and the results 1 of the studies were controlled by field studies and after determining the of , studied points of distances of 2 × 2 kilometers and about 2 50.000 control profiles, different series of soil from all classes of each profile to 3 profiles per 1,000 hectares were determined and by excavating and were sampled, and sent to central lab of Jihad Keshavarzi of Fars for studying the profiles, various classes were distinguished and similar physicochemical tests such as testing of saturation percentage, soluble soils in terms of color, texture, structure, focus of lime, gypsum, salt, salts, percentage of calcium carbonate, gypsum, organic carbon, clay and genetic horizons were assigned series name and nominated phosphorus and potassium absorbed, texture, anions and cations Volume 30 • Issue 4 • 1000324 • Page 2 of 6 • Citation: Owfi RE (2017) Vegetation of Saline Regions of Fars Province, Iran. Vegetos 30:4. doi: 10.5958/2229-4473.2017.00192.6 exchangeable etc. was sent to the lab agricultural research center of are 6 classes and 5 sorts of restriction. Here, given vegetation of saline Fars. Then, using data obtained, map of soils was prepared based on areas is being referred to, just restriction sort an identifying with the field studies and interpretation of results of laboratory test and based impediment of saltiness and alkalinity was utilized, which has been classification of lands for irrigation guideline and soil studies, soil viewed as just as far as saltiness. Saline areas are land with more than studies, map of lands classification was prepared and by combining 4 dS/m Ece and SAR of smaller than 13. Table 1 shows information 1 aerial photographs and topographical maps to a scale of 1 , final about 31 studies mentioned. 50.000 1 map scale of was obtained. Discussion 50.000 Stage three, preparation of final report and maps: Having Table 1 shows all data obtained from studies in Fars province.