Relationship between Soil Properties and Plant Diversity in Semiarid Grassland

Abstract

In ecological studies, soil-plant interaction is an important environmental factor. Soil chemical and physical properties affect plant richness and diversity. This study was carried out to investigate the relationship between soil physical and chemical properties, and plant diversity indexes (Shannon-Weiner and Simpson) in semiarid grassland. Plant diversity indexes and soil properties were determined using 34 quadrats (5x5m) on different parent materials (chrome, marble, serpentine, red chalk and red chalk mostra) in semiarid grasslands in the Central Anatolia Region in Turkey. Plant samples were collected and recorded periodically from April to September (the vegetation period) in 2014 for each quadrat. In order to determine the plant richness and diversity indexes, 3 sub-quadrats (1x1m) were randomly added into each of 34 (5x5 m) quadrats. To evaluate the relationship between plant diversity indexes and soil properties, composite soil samples were collected from the four corners, and the center of each quadrat 0-30 cm in depth, and which was mixing of those subsamples. Soil sand-silt-clay contents, soil reaction (pH), bulk density (BD), electrical conductivity (EC), CaCO3 and soil organic matter (SOM) contents were measured. Relationship between plant diversity indexes measured in different months during vegetation period and soil properties of different parent material was statistically analysed using correlation analysis in SPSS 20.0. Modest correlation coefficient was found between the Simpson diversity index and SOM content, sand-silt-clay content, pH and EC for different months in vegetation period.

Characterization of soils on consolidated limestone and its relations to grassland vegetation

“…Among the ecological factors responsible for the vegetation type appearance and its related floristic composition, the relief (mainly the inclination and the altitude) and climate (the temperature and the precipitation) are frequently addressed [6,38,39]. The following soil characteristics were reported as the most influential: soil pH and/or base saturation [8,[40][41][42], SOM [42], soil texture [8,42], structure [6] and soil depth [38]. In our study, altitude was the main relief variable important for cluster grouping (Fig.…”

Effect of Different Concentrations of Irrigation Water Salinity and Potassium Humate on Vegetative Growth and Mineral Content of Prickly Pear Plants (Opuntia ficus-indica L.) (1)

“…In addition, with increasing temperatures and decreasing rainfall in arid lands, salt cannot be washed away, resulting in accumulations in the topsoil. This limits the growth of plant roots and causes abiotic challenges for plants (Dolarslan and Gul, 2012). Salinity buildup adversely affects plant growth and development through osmotic effects and the ionic supply of nutrients (Singh 2003).…”

Evaluation of some biological and organic soil amendments in improving growth of wheat plant under irrigation with saline water

“…The properties of the soil must be modified by the addition of organic matter in order to increase plant productivity (Ask et al, 2009). Application of organic fertilizer enhances the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of soil and boosts soil fertility, increasing yield per unit area (Dolarslan and Gul, 2012). Humic compounds, which make up most of the soil's organic matter, influence plant growth both directly and indirectly (Sangeetha et al, 2006).…”