Some Soil and Quantitative Characteristics of Christ's thorn (Ziziphus spina christi L. Desf.) in Natural Sites of South West of Iran (Case study: Khouzestan and Booshehr provinces)

In order to investigate some silvicultural and soil physico-chemical characteristics of Christ's thorn (Ziziphus spina christi L. Desf.) natural stands, ten natural stands of the tree species which have similar climate and aspects were selected and altitude from sea level (ASL), the thickest sprout collar diameter (TSCD) and total tree height (TH) of the tree species were measured in 1000 m2 circular main plots. Seedling regenerations of the species were counted in 100 m2 circular microplots. We sampled soil from three depths of 0-30, 31-50 and 51-70 cm for studying on soil physico-chemical properties in each main plot. To compare means of tree quantitative characteristics, t-student, ANOVA and Duncan and for soil studying, CA and PCA were used. The results showed that TSCD and TH hadnt significant differences in two levels of ASL. Although there were an exclusive correlation between presence of the species and sand percent of all three layers of soil in around 60% of Christ's thorn sites, the minimum TSCD were recorded in the sites too. Christ's thorn had the maximum TSCD in sites correlated with N, OC and EC in shallow and percent of silt and clay in deep layers of soil. So for increasing success of Christ's thorn plantations we suggest such sites are selected.