Year 2025, Volume 10, Issue 3
| Year : | 2025 |
| Volume : | 10 |
| Issue : | 3 |
| Authors : | Ülkü YILMAZ |
| Title : | GEOSTATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECTS OF SOIL COMPACTION ON PLANT COMPOSITION IN A SEMI-ARID RANGELAND |
| Abstract : | Soil compaction is a key factor that shapes the ecological balance of rangelands by altering soil structure and, consequently, influencing plant growth. This research investigates how vegetation is distributed across a semi-arid rangeland and how soil compaction changes from one area to another. To achieve this, 250 soil sampling points were selected, and both composite and undisturbed samples were collected from the top 0–20 cm layer. Penetration resistance was also measured directly in the field. The spatial behavior of soil and vegetation characteristics was examined using semivariogram modeling and ordinary kriging to visualize their spatial structure. Results indicated that areas with lower penetration resistance supported a higher presence of decreaser and increaser species, whereas compacted zones were mostly occupied by invasive plants. These findings emphasize the ecological importance of maintaining low soil compaction to sustain valuable decreaser species and highlight the necessity of grazing management practices that prevent overgrazing and reduce the spread of invasive species in compacted areas. |
| For citation : | Yılmaz, Ü. (2025). Geostatistical analysis of the effects of soil compaction on plant composition in a semi-arid rangeland. AGROFOR International Journal, Volume 10. Issue No. 3. pp. 57-68. DOI:10.7251/AGREN2503057Y |
| Keywords : | Penetration, geostatistics, vegetation, composition, kriging. |
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ISSN 2490-3434 (Printed)
ISSN 2490-3442 (Online)
ISSN 2490-3442 (Online)
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