The recycling of plant residues can be an important source of available sulphate in soils. This study investigates the effects of soil sulphate availability on residue decomposition and the relationships between plant residue quality and S and C mineralizationA soil incubation experiment examined rapeseed straw mineralization after adding sulphate at rates of 20 and 50 mg S-SO4 kg(-1) soil in a loamy soil. Soils amended with wheat straw, tall fescue, mustard or beech leaf residues were incubated. Net C and S mineralization were measured continuously during a 175-day incubation at 20 A degrees C and gross S mineralization and immobilization were quantified using S-35 soil labeling.The addition of sulphate did not change C mineralization, indicating that soil S supply was high enough to supply microbial needs during decomposition. The chemical quality of the residue significantly modified the rate of decomposition and the gross and net S mineralization, with a high release of sulphate from mustard and fescue residues but little net change in soil sulphate with the other residues.The chemical composition and C/S ratio of plant residues are important criteria for predicting both the dynamics and the amount of sulphate available during residue decomposition

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The selection of species for restoration projects requires decision-making to be based on scientific evidence as well as input and approval from local communities. To better guide future restoration initiatives, this study assessed the socio-ecological effects of two Prosopis congeners including the native Prosopis cineraria and the non-native P. juliflora (mesquite) in two different sites in Southern Iran. Soil parameters including pH, electrical conductivity, organic carbon, and total nitrogen as well as vegetation indices including native vegetation cover, diversity, and density were measured under both of the congener tree species. Furthermore, pastoralists' perceptions toward the colonizing ability of both Prosopis congeners, their impacts on ecosystem services, and people's livelihoods and human well-being were assessed through interviews and semi-structured questionnaires. The ecological results showed that areas with native P. cineraria had higher native vegetation cover, density, and diversity as compared to sites with the non-native P. juliflora. Soils under P. cineraria and P. juliflora generally showed similar properties, with some small differences between sites (especially for pH and nitrogen). The social results showed that pastoralists in both study regions perceived P. cineraria to be better for local ecosystem services and livelihoods and viewed it to have lower colonizing or invasion potential. It can be concluded that native P. cineraria is a better candidate for restoration because it provides more ecological and social benefits and poses fewer long-term threats. Caution should be taken when promoting non-native species such as P. juliflora for restoration.

BackgroundIran is of the species-rich areas in diversity of plants, especially medicinal plants being renowned worldwide as crucial for people’s health. Ethnobotany is the information retrieval science of unwritten experiences and is one of the valuable ways to develop the science of medicinal plants and herbal medicine. Objective : This present study aims to identify medicinal plants used widely by local people in Azad Shahr (Golestan province), collect information about diseases treated by using these plants, and boost indigenous knowledge concerning medicinal plants used by local people.MethodsAn ethnobotanical survey was conducted to document indigenous knowledge on medicinal plants uses among local people in Khosh Yeilagh rangelands within 2 years (2018-2020). The data were collected by using field observation, participatory and semi-structured interviews with 41 people (11 male, 30 female). A snowball sampling technique was used to selecte the interviewees. The collected information were categorized based on local names, parts consumed, medicinal properties, consumption habits, and other uses of wild edible plants, WEPs.ResultEighty-four plant species belonging to 27 families were identified in the study area. Most plant species in the region were respectively Lamiaceae (20 species), Compositae (12 species) and Legominaceae (6 species). The results showed that the most frequent medicinal plants were used for gastrointestinal problems (34%), cough and colds (18%), and respiratory disease (13%).ConclusionThe presence of various species of medicinal plants and vast indigenous knowledge in Khoshyilagh rangelands indicate the richness of this area. Research on these plants can pave the way for discovering new medicine in the field of treatment and for preserving these valuable reserves as well as preventing the disappearance and destruction of herbs.