Comparison of soil physical and chemical properties between the sites of exclosure and grazing (Case study: Nazarabad-Karaj)

Exclosure is the prevention of livestock access to all or part of the rangeland for one year or a few consecutive years, performed with different goals. This research was aimed to investigate the effect of exclosure on soil physical and chemical properties as well as three main elements of N, P, and K in Nazarabad region, Karaj. Soil sampling was performed in both sites of exclosure and grazing. Soil samples were taken from the beginning, middle and end of the four transects, established in each region, at two soil depths of 0-20 cm and 20-80 cm using systematic random sampling. The following soil properties were measured in the lab: pH, EC, organic matter, saturation percentage, and N, P, K. According to the obtained results, the effect of exclosure on soil N, P, and K was significant; however, exclosure had no significant effect on pH, organic matter and saturation percentage. Overall, our results clearly showed the positive impact of exclosure on soil physical and chemical properties.