Variability of soil chemical and biological properties in Prunus scoparia and Pistacia atlantica forest habitats in the Irano-Turanian floristic region

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Kerman Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Kerman, Iran.

2 Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Tehran, Iran.

10.22059/jfwp.2025.399655.1362

Abstract

Irano-Turanian forests are undergoing severe degradation and soil fertility decline due to overexploitation. This study assessed the variability of soil chemical and biological properties in Pistacia atlantica and Prunus scoparia habitats to develop strategies for sustainable conservation and restoration. A total of 45 soil samples were collected from a depth of 0–15 cm in wild P. atlantica and P. scoparia stands and adjacent control areas (without forest cover). Soil properties, including pH, CaCO₃, soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), exchangeable calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), and micronutrients (Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn), were analyzed along with biological parameters such as basal and substrate-induced microbial respiration (BR and SIR), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), and nitrification potential (NP). Data were evaluated using ANOVA and Tukey’s HSD test. Results showed significant increases in CaCO₃, SOC, K, Na, and Mn under tree cover, with K notably higher under P. atlantica. BR, SIR, and NP were also significantly enhanced in forested areas. PCA confirmed distinct improvements in soil fertility and microbial activity in tree-covered sites. Overall, both species improved soil chemical and biological properties, but P. atlantica performed better in enhancing available K and promoting microbial activity (BR, SIR, NP), making it more suitable for restoration programs in Kerman Province. These findings underscore the potential of native tree species in stabilizing ecosystems and restoring soil fertility.

Keywords

Main Subjects


 [1] Moradi, Gh. & Zahedi Amiri, G.h. (2012). Life Forms of the Plants in Irano-Tourani Region and the Situation of This Region in the World. Journal of Wood and Forest Science and Technology, 16(3), 77-91. (In Persian)
[2] Sagheb Talebi, K., Sajedi, T., Pourhashemi, M., Talebi, K.S., Sajedi, T. & Pourhashemi, M. (2014). Irano-Turanian Region. Forests of Iran: A Treasure from the Past, a Hope for the Future, 67-113.
[3] Hamzehpour, M., Bordbar, S.K., Joukar, L. & Abbasi, A.R. (2006). The potential of rehabilitation of wild pistacio forests through straight seed sowing & seedling planting. Iranian Journal of Forest and Poplar Research, 14(3), 220-207. (In Persian)
[4] Saberi, F., Kiani, B., Omidvar, E., Azimzadeh, H., & Esmaeilpour, M. (2023). Evaluating the plantation success by mountain almond (Amygdalus scoparia Spach.) and its effect on vegetation and soil in Arjan habitats of Jamal Beyg region, Fars province. Water and Soil Management and Modelling, 3(4), 227-240. (In Persian)
[5] Nottingham, A.T., Meir, P., Velasquez, E. & Turner, B.L. (2020). Soil carbon loss by experimental warming in a tropical forest. Nature, 584(7820), 234-237.
[6] Ndossi, E.M., Becker, J.N., Hemp, A., Dippold, M.A., Kuzyakov, Y. & Razavi, B.S. (2020). Effects of land use and elevation on the functional characteristics of soil enzymes at Mt. Kilimanjaro. European Journal of Soil Biology, 97(3), 103167.
[7] Błońska, E., Lasota, J., Prażuch, W. & Ilek, A. (2025). Vertical variations in enzymatic activity and C: N: P stoichiometry in forest soils under the influence of different tree species. European Journal of Forest Research, 144(1), 83-94.
[8] Zouitane, I., Ferioun, M., Bouamri, K., Derraz, K., Koraichi, S.I., Idbella, M., Lingua, G. & El Ghachtouli, N. (2025). Comparative assessment of physicochemical properties, functional diversity and enzymatic activities in three Opuntia ficus-indica soils across diverse climatic regions in Morocco. Scientific African, 28, p.e02663.
[9] Bayranvand, M., Akbarinia, M., Salehi Jouzani, G., Gharechahi, J. & Baldrian, P. (2021). Distribution of soil extracellular enzymatic, microbial, and biological functions in the C and N-cycle pathways along a forest altitudinal gradient. Frontiers in Microbiology, 12, p.660603.
[10] Massaccesi, L., Feudis, M. D., Leccese, A. & Agnelli, A. (2020). Altitude and vegetation affect soil organic carbon, basal respiration and microbial biomass in apennine forest soils. Forests, 11(6), 710.
[11] Walker, T.W., Kaiser, C., Strasser, F., Herbold, C.W., Leblans, N.I., Woebken, D. & Janssens, I.A. (2018). Sigurdsson, B. D., & Richter, A., Microbial temperature sensitivity and biomass change explain soil carbon loss with warming. Nature Climate Change, 8(10), 885-9.
[12] Rostamikia, Y., Matinizadeh, M., Nouri, E., Alizadeh, T. & Mohtaram Anbaran, S. (2025). The effect of canopy covers of wild pistachio (Pistacia atlantica Desf.) and wild almond (Prunus lycioides Spach.) trees on soil properties (case study: Kandaragh forest of Khalkhal, Ardabil Province). Iranian Journal of Forest, 17(1), 13-29. (In Persian)
[13] Matinizadeh, M. (2021). National Project for Soil Assessment and Monitoring of Iran-Turanian Forest Masses. pp.121 (In Persian)
[14] Ghazan Shahy, C. (2006). Analysis of soil and plants. Homa Publication, 272 p.
[15] Sparling, G.P. & West, A.W. (1988). A direct extraction method to estimate soil microbial C: calibration in situ using microbial respiration and 14C labelled cells. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 20(3), 337-343.
[16] Schinner, F., Ohlinger, R., Kandeler, E. & Margesin, R. (1996). Methods in soil biology. Springer-Verlage Berline Hidelberg, 418 p
[17] Urbanová, M., Šnajdr, J. & Baldrian, P. (2015). Composition of fungal and bacterial communities in forest litter and soil is largely determined by dominant trees. Soil Biology and Biochem, 84(4), 53-64.
[18] Moradinejad, A., Matinizadeh, M. & Alizadeh, T. (2024). Effects of pimento (Pistacia atlantica Desf) on some soil biological characteristics of Iran-Turanian forest masses (Case study: Farak Tafaresh region). Journal of Sol Biology, 12(1), 141-154. (In Persian)
[19] Razanamalala, K., Razafimbelo, T., Maron, P.A., Ranjard, L., Chemidlin, N., Lelièvre, M., Dequiedt, S., Ramaroson, V.H., Marsden, C., Becquer, T. & Trap, J. (2018). Soil microbial diversity drives the priming effect along climate gradients: a case study in Madagascar. The ISME journal, 12(2), 451-62.
[20] Bayranvand, M., Kooch, Y. & Bahmani, M. (2019). Variability analysis of soil carbon and nitrogen storage under Prosopis cineraria, Calotropis procera and Ziziphus spinosa species in the South of Kerman. Journal of Arid Biome, 8(2), 91-101. (In Persian)
[21] Shukla, M.K., Lal, R., Ebinger, M. & Meyer, C. (2006). Physical and chemical properties of soils under some piñon-juniper-oak canopies in a semi-arid ecosystem in New Mexico. Journal of Arid Environments, 66(4), 673-685.
[22] Bayranvand, M., Matinizadeh, M., Sadeghi, S.M., Alizadeh, T., Nouri, E. & Darroudi, H. (2024). Effect of two species of Prosopis (P. cineraria and P. juliflora) on soil quality in Saharo-Sindian region of Iran (Case study: Sistan and Baluchestan province). Forest and Wood Products, 76(4), 299-311. (In Persian)
[23] Zarafshar, M., Vincent, G., Korboulewsky, N., & Bazot, S. (2024). The impact of stand composition and tree density on topsoil characteristics and soil microbial activities. Catena, 234(5), 107541.
[24] Xin, X., Jiang, X., Su, J., Yan, X., Ni, J., Faeflen, S.J., Huang, X. & Wright, A.L. (2016). Manganese oxide affects nitrification and ammonia oxidizers in subtropical and temperate acid forest soils. Catena, 137(2), 24-30.
[25] Zheng, Y., Liu, X., Cai, Y., Shao, Q., Zhu, W. & Lin, X. (2022). Combined intensive management of fertilization, tillage, and organic material mulching regulate soil bacterial communities and functional capacities by altering soil potassium and pH in a Moso bamboo forest. Frontiers in Microbiology, 13(7), p.944874.