The effect of vegetation type on selected soil quality indicators in a semiarid rangeland in Hamedan, Iran

Soil quality approach can be used to describe soil health changes caused by different land use managements and vegetation types. The researchers' objective was to assess the response of some soil quality indicators to different vegetation types including rainfed wheat (RW), grasses (G), Astragallus-Bromus (A-B), Astragallus-Lactuca, Astragallus-Artimisia and Astragallus-Euphorbia (A-E) in a semiarid experimental rangeland in Hamedan, where environmental conditions in terms of slope aspect and soil parent material were similar. Substrate-induced microbial respiration (MR^sub I^) and the activity of phosphomonoesterase enzyme were determined in surface soil in spring and autumn. Morover, bioavailable phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) were measured in autumn. No significant disparity was detected in P content of different vegetation types. Bioavailable K between was highest in A-E, and lowest in G and RW sites. MR^sub I^ was significantly higher in spring irrespective of vegetation type. This index was significantly highest in A-B site in both seasons.