Shrubs are one of the most dominant plant types in semiarid ecosystems all over the world. What remains to be investigated is how soil and vegetation characteristics vary under canopy of different species of shrubs in these regions. Thus, this study aimed to compare the effect of three shrub species (Amygdalus scoparia, Ebenus stellata, and Daphne mezereum) on soil and vegetation characteristics under their canopies in semiarid rangelands in Iran for restoration purposes of degraded areas. Fifteen sites were selected in such three shrub species, which were found close to each other in each site. Soil and vegetation characteristics were measured under the shrubs, comparing with outside the shrub canopies (control). One-way ANOVA and nonmetric dimensional scaling were used to clarify the differences of the effects of different shrub species on sub-canopy soil and plants. The results indicated that the effect of different species of shrubs on soil properties was not equal, more pronounced by A. scoparia. Similarly, the highest value of Shannon-Wiener diversity was recorded under A. scoparia (2.07) as compared with D. mezerum (1.76), E. stellata (1.41) (F = 32.25, p < 0.01). The highest and lowest values of Menhinick richness index were observed under A. scoparia (3.43) and E. stellata (1.46), respectively (1.41) (F = 13.30, p < 0.01). Compared with two other shrubs, a taller canopy in A. scoparia (3.50 m vs. 2.60 m and 1.83 m) probably led to greater litter input by the shrub. Different effects of different species of shrubs on sub-canopy soil and vegetation should be considered in the restoration projects of degraded semiarid rangelands.

中文翻译：

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半干旱地区不同灌木种类对其亚冠层土壤和植被特性的影响

灌木是全世界半干旱生态系统中最主要的植物类型之一。仍有待研究的是在这些地区不同种类灌木的冠层下土壤和植被特征如何变化。因此，本研究旨在比较三种灌木物种（扁桃属植物、星状黑檀属植物和达芙妮属植物）的影响。) 在伊朗半干旱牧场的树冠下的土壤和植被特征，用于退化地区的恢复。在这三个灌木物种中选择了 15 个地点，在每个地点发现它们彼此靠近。与灌木冠层外（对照）相比，测量了灌木下的土壤和植被特征。使用单向方差分析和非度量维度标度来阐明不同灌木物种对亚冠层土壤和植物的影响差异。结果表明，不同种类的灌木对土壤性质的影响不均等，以A. scoparia更为显着。同样，与D. mezerum相比，香农-维纳多样性的最高值记录在A. scoparia (2.07)下(1.76), E. stellata (1.41) ( F  = 32.25, p  < 0.01)。Menhinick 丰富度指数的最高值和最低值分别在A. scoparia (3.43) 和E. stellata (1.46)下观察到(1.41) ( F  = 13.30, p  < 0.01)。与其他两种灌木相比，A. scoparia较高的树冠（3.50 m 对 2.60 m 和 1.83 m）可能会导致灌木更大的凋落物输入。退化半干旱牧场的恢复工程应考虑不同种类灌木对亚冠层土壤和植被的不同影响。