Semi-Circular Bunds Effect on Restoration of Plant Vegetation and Soil Properties in Koteh Rangeland, Sistan and Baloochestan Province, Iran

Abstract. In dry lands, semi-circular bund has been considered as a management practice used to restore the ecological revival in terms of vegetation enrichment and soil amelioration. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of semi-circular bunds on vegetation cover and some soil properties in Koteh rangeland, Sistan and Baloochestan province, Iran (2014). Adjacent to the semi-circular bund area, a rangeland area without semi-circular bunds was selected as the control site. Vegetation sampling was done using 5×5 m2 plots and soil samples were taken from the depth of 0–30 cm. Vegetation and soil data were analyzed using T test. In total, 16 species from 7 families and 13 genera were observed. Results showed that semi-circular bunds exhibited more vegetation cover, plant production and density. The minimum values of production and vegetation coverwere related to the control site. The highest and lowest richness and diversity of species were measured in the semi-circular bunds area and the control site, respectively. The pH level was significantly higher in the soils of semi-circular bunds area as compared to the control site (P<0.05). However, the level of soil EC followed an opposite pattern. Results showed that the amounts of organic carbon, nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus and calcium carbonate increased significantly in the semi-circular bunds as compared to the control site (P<0.05). The semi-circular bunds area had more amounts of clay and silt and the least values were measured in the control site. In total, the results of the study showed that building the semi-circular bund had positive effects on vegetation cover and soil properties in the rangelands of study area