Plantations in Dez River Floodplain Influence Soil Macrofauna Differently

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 Forestry Department, Higher Education Complex of Behbahan

2 Forestry Department, Natural Rescours and Marin Science Faculty, Tarbiat Modares University

3 Forestry Department, Natural Resources Faculty, Kurdistan University

4 Agriculture and Natural Rescours Center of Khuzestan Province

Abstract

Plantations may influence soil fauna directly or indirectly. This research was conducted in order to study the influence of species plantations on soil macrofauna. Plantations of eight tree species including nitrogen fixing trees and non-nitrogen fixing trees based on complete randomized block design with 3 replicates were established in 1372 in Dez riverside. Soil macrofauna were studied randomly with two 0.5 × 0.5 m2 samples from the 0-25 cm top soil in 1385. Earthworm, formicidae, coleoptera, collembola, araneae, chilopoda, isopoda and gastropoda were found. The average of soil macroinvertebrate abundances and biomass were consistently higher in A. salicina plantations than the other, whereas, E. camaldulensis had the lowest abundances and biomass and the highest richness. Comparison of the arthropods abundances and biomass did not show any significant differences between the different plantations. Comparison of macrofauna abundances and biomass in tow plantation groups were not significantly different. Principal component analyze of plantation species based on soil macrofauna also did not separate the two groups, so we could say that the differences under the diverse species do not relate to their nitrogen fixing property. As soil macrofauna is an important factor in regulating litter decomposition, the study on the relation of their abundance and richness to litter decompositiom is recommended.

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History

  • Receive Date: 29 August 2012
  • Accept Date: 29 August 2012
  • First Publish Date: 29 August 2012

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