Abstract Forage productivity of degraded rangelands is low and can be increased through development of small structures across the land slope which capture overland flow and store it in the soil profile for subsequent plant use. Establishment of forage shrubs in micro-catchment structures is commonly practiced to boost forage production on degraded rangelands but its impact on natural vegetation is usually overlooked. This study aimed to compare the effect of planting 8-month-old seedlings of Atriplex halimus in contour ridges versus zero intervention on vegetation attributes of degraded rangelands. Six sites planted with Atriplex halimus in contour ridges were selected in Jordan Badia. Attributes of natural vegetation and Atriplex plants were monitored during March, April, and May of 2017 representing early, mid, and late-spring grazing. Percent cover, species richness, fresh, and dry weights of vegetation forage of treated and untreated areas averaged 30.0 and 12.4%, 2.9 and 1.7 species/m2, 1566 and 695 kg/ha, and 383 and 154 kg/ha, respectively. Atriplex browse contributed 15% to total forage production of treated areas. Restoration of degraded arid rangelands through planting forage shrubs in contour ridges created topographic features that helped in harnessing surface runoff, created better growing conditions for vegetation and improved its attributes.

中文翻译：

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微流域种植蒺藜幼苗对干旱牧场自然植被属性的影响

摘要 退化牧场的草料生产力很低，可以通过在陆坡上开发小型结构来提高草料生产力，这些结构捕获地表水流并将其储存在土壤剖面中供后续植物使用。在微型集水区建立草料灌木通常用于提高退化牧场的草料产量，但其对自然植被的影响通常被忽视。本研究旨在比较种植 8 个月大的 Atriplex halimus 幼苗在等高山脊与零干预对退化牧场植被属性的影响。在约旦巴迪亚选择了六个在等高山脊中种植 Atriplex halimus 的地点。在 2017 年 3 月、4 月和 5 月期间监测了自然植被和 Atriplex 植物的属性，代表早、中和晚春放牧。处理区和未处理区的植被覆盖率、物种丰富度、鲜重和干重平均分别为 30.0% 和 12.4%、2.9 和 1.7 种/平方米、1566 和 695 公斤/公顷，以及 383 和 154 公斤/公顷。Atriplex 浏览占处理区域总草料产量的 15%。通过在等高山脊上种植牧草灌木来恢复退化的干旱牧场，创造了有助于利用地表径流的地形特征，为植被创造了更好的生长条件并改善了其属性。