Effect of soil salinity on plant distribution in Hoze Soltan lake area

Every year for different reasons, more lands turn into salty soils, therefore we can’t rely on their production cycle and utilization. So the first step to repel this problem is recognition of regions that are salty such as Hoze Soltan lake. According to the floristic study in this region,47 plant species from 42 genera belonging to 21 families were collected and determined. The richest family in the studied area is Chenopodiaceae (% 29.79), considering life form spectrum, the highest proportion of life forms belonged to therophytes constituting (%51.06) of the biological types that showed dry and steppe climate, the most tolerant halophytes is Halocnemum strobilaceum and the most sensitive halophyte is Artemisia sieberi. To determine soil characteristics such as soil texture, pH, EC, anions and cations in different plant layers, some profiles about 1.5 km around the lake were installed. By soil sampling in the depths of (0-20) cm and(20-60) cm, the soil analysis was done. The research findings represent that the soil categorized in salty and alkaline and from surface to depth the amount of clay and alkalin is increased but salt decreased. The most important factors in plant distribution are salt and soil texture.