Authors : Gholam Reza Rahbar, Mohmed Musa Hanafi, Sayyed Ahang Kowsar and Radziah Othman
Abstract: Desertification control through Flood Water Spreading (FWS) mainly for the Artificial Recharge of Groundwater (ARG) is comprehensive study that is being implemented since Jan. 1963 in the Gareh Bygone Plain (GBP) in Southern of Iran. Total 8 ARG system with a total area of 1365 ha were constructed during the 1983-1987 period on the debris cone and alluvial fan formed by the Bisheh Zard river an ephemeral stream that supplies floodwater to the GBP from none to 8 times a year. The appearance of sowbugs (Hemilepistus shirazi Schuttz) in the sedimentation basins of the Artificial Recharge of Groundwater (ARG) systems in the Gareh Bygone Plain (GBP) in Southern Iran is considered an ecological breakthrough in desertification control. This crustacean which drills 7-8 mm holes down to 1.8 m in the freshly laid sediment and sand, facilitates preferential flow of water towards the aquifers. Particle size distribution, saturation percentage, pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC) and concentration of major cations and anions, Cation Exchangeable Capacity (CEC) and trace elements were determined using the standard procedures. The burrowed material was highly concentrated in macro- and micro-elements. pH was lowered by 1.4 units in the same material. Saturation percentage of water has been increased 2-folds comparison with control. In this reason, sowbug can be in a desert region in the research station. The amount of total nitrogen in burrowed materials has changed 13-folds in comparison with control. The burrowed material was highly concentrated in organic carbon in comparison with control (7-folds) and show a significant difference in 1% level. The concentration of iron, zinc, manganese and copper due to sowbug activities have increased (3.13, 3.8, 4.9 and 12.7-folds, respectively) and show a significant difference in 1% level. Results show that the physico-chemical properties of burrowed materials are more fertile in comparison with control. Moreover by bringing up, the excavated material sowbugs affect the surface soil composition in a long time.
Gholam Reza Rahbar, Mohmed Musa Hanafi, Sayyed Ahang Kowsar and Radziah Othman, 2011. The Effects of Sowbug (Hemilepistus shirazi Schuttz) on Some Physico-Chemical Properties of Soil in a Desert Region. Agricultural Journal, 6: 392-399.