Physico-chemical Properties and Aggregate Stability of Arid Soilsin Southeastern Iran

There is no reported study showing the relation between soil characteristics and aggregate stability indices in Southeastern Iran. A study was conducted to investigate the influence of soil physicochemical properties in the Southeastern Iran on soil stability indices. Eight soil profiles were dug,analyzed and classified as Entisols and Aridisols. These soils are calcareous in nature with highamounts of basic cations. There was a significant positive correlation between water-stable aggregates(WSA) and organic carbon (OC), exchangeable Ca2+ and iron oxide with r-values of 0.70**, 0.51**,and 0.74**, respectively. Soil pH affects stability indices the most as indicated by the highestsignificant correlation between pH and WDC (r = 0.78**). The results indicated that the significantpositive factors affecting WDC are in the order of pH > K+ > CEC > Na+ > SAR > Mg2+ > claycontent and the positive factors affecting WSA are Fe2O3 > OC > Ca2+, respectively

کلیدواژه ها:

calcareous soils ، aggregate stability ، arid region ، soil properties