The investigation of vegetation of Marl areas for biological controlling of water erosion in arid study: Semnan Province, Iran

The vast areas of Central Iran has been covered by sediments of Tertiary (Neogen) era. The lithology areas is categorized as Marl. The Marl is kind of rocks which has proportional clay and salts conte specifications of these rocks are low infiltration and poor vegetation. So, they have high erodability po In this case, we proposed a project to recognize vegetation of three land features including salty Marl, Marl and Calcic Marl of these areas in Semnan Province, Iran. Studies were based on geological, geo logical and physiographical maps and aerial photos and field surveys. The results show that distribution of vegetation in these three features depends on the physiographic s As such, vegetation of hill foot and hill slope is different from each other according to the plant spe density. The predominant plant species in Gypsum hills were Ephedra sp., Cornulaca momacantna, setifera, in salty were Seidlitzia rosmarinus, Salsola arbascula and in calcic hills were Artemissia her Atraphaxis spinosa, Stachis inflate. These plant species can be utilized in biological control of water erosion in other similar areas.