Effects of Haloxylon aphyllum plantation on vegetation and soil properties (Case study: Abbas-Abad area, Mashhad)

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Haloxylon aphyllum plantation on natural plant communities and soil properties of Abbas-Abad area in Khorasan Razavi Province. For this purpose، Haloxylon plantation and control areas were selected to compare with each other. In each area، fifty- meter transects were located by random-systematic method. Measurements were done by point sampling method. Eighteen soil samples were collected from Haloxylon plantation and control areas to determine EC and pH values in the laboratory. Data were analyzed by t-test. According to the results، although higher species diversity was significant in Haloxylon plantation area (P<0/05)، Haloxylon caused the replacement of non-native communities، so that only 64. 28% of species composition in Haloxylon plantation area was similar to the control area. On the other hand، higher soil pH and EC in Haloxylon plantation area was significant (P<0/01) and probably in the long term، Haloxylon causes the salinity and alkalinity of the soil surface.