Investigating the Role of Rangeland Species in the protection of marl formations from erosion in Ardakan – Yazd

In some marl outcrops, certain rangeland species grow dramatically, stabilizing soil and controlling erosion and erosion. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of rangeland species on marine erosion control of desert regions of Ardakan city of Yazd. For this purpose, after separation of marl zones on geological map and field visits, marl boundaries were finalized on the map. Then, a map of percentage of vegetation species and type was prepared. Field visits were conducted to determine the percentage of vegetation and to prepare a list of plant species. To investigate the physical and chemical properties of the soil, sampling from 12 sites and dividing it into four homogeneous groups was performed by means of ANOVA and Duncan test. The results showed that different marl formations in Ardakan desert areas include marl with gypsum, sandstone and conglomerate and lime. Most marl lands are vegetation-free and sometimes rocky. But in some parts of the marl, especially in the waterways, low density rangeland bushes play an effective role in controlling groove erosion and groove fixation. The most consistent species (83% in vegetated plots) is the marshy land of Salsola tomentosa. Comparison of soil chemical properties of marl groups showed that alkalinity, gypsum, salinity, calcium and magnesium and lime variables had significant differences at 1 and 5% probability level. Therefore, it has caused differences in the establishment of vegetation and species.