Evaluation of the Impact of Soil Additives on Morphological Characteristics of Calligonum Bungei Boiss.

Abstract

In arid and semi-arid ecosystems, woody and perennial plants are considered as a key factor in wind speed reduction and windblown sands sedimentation. The present study aims to evaluate the effect of different levels of soil additives on morphological characteristics of Calligonum bungei Boiss. A greenhouse experiment was conducted in factorial plan in a randomized complete block design RCBD. In design of experiments, applied treatments were natural and municipal waste compost biochars as soil additives, each in four levels of 0, 1, 3 and 5%, mycorrhiza present or absent, and plant type. Results showed that treatment NO. 7 cause increased 34.62% in plant height, 42.38% in collar diameter, 554.02% canopy cover volume, 124.04% root length, 30.92% fresh weight of shoot, 36.23% fresh weight of root in mycorrhizal plants and treatment NO. 23 cause increased 39.24% in plant height, 35.98% collar diameter, 152.1% canopy cover volume, 17.74% root length, 68.53% fresh weight of shoot, and 20.75% fresh weight of root in non-mycorrhizal plant accordance with control treatment. Among the used treatment, those in the absence of mycorrhiza due to poor-quality of mycorrhiza and lack of interconnection between plant and mycorrhizal fungal networks had better growth than those of non-mycorrhizal plants. According to the results, treatment No. 7 due to low cost, greater accessibility, improve of soil fertility, and plant establishment were recommended in desert regions.

Keywords

• sand dunes
• growth properties
• biochar
• mycorrhiza