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Determining the optimal habitat conditions for caper plant (Capparis spinosa L.) in West Azerbaijan Province
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Fereidun Mohebbi *   , Mehran Mojarrad ashena abad2 , Alireza Eivazi2 |
AREEO, West Azerbaijan, Urmia, 3rd kilometer of Salmas Road, next to Urmia Agricultural Jihad, Provincial Agricultural Research Center , mohebbi44@gmail.com
2- West Azerbaijan, Urmia, 3rd kilometer of Salmas Road, next to Urmia Agricultural Jihad, Provincial Agricultural Research Center |
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Abstract: (7 Views) |
| In Iran, climate change, drought, and destruction of vegetation cover have caused an increased soil erosion, and desertification. Finding a plant that is compatible with the climate and soils of Iran and has high economic or medicinal potential is the missing link in the protection of natural resources and sustainable development. This study aimed to investigate the habitats of the caper plant (Capparis spinosa L.) and determine the optimal conditions for this plant in terms of climate, topography, and soil variables in West Azerbaijan province. After identifying the habitats, ecological data of the habitats and biometric studies of the habitats with large populations were collected. The sampling method of plant communities was carried out in a random-systematic manner. Based on the population size, a number of transects with a length of 100 to 200 meters were selected in each habitat, and plots with a distance of 10, 20, or 30 meters from each other and with dimensions of 2 by 2 meters were selected along the transects, and biological characteristics were measured. In this study, habitat grouping was done by Principal Component Analysis (PCA) method and then the role of the studied factors was determined using biplot. Two-way UPGMA clustering was also performed between soil and biological variables and between habitats. The results showed that the caper plant is adapted to conditions with an average annual temperature of 14.5°C and an annual rainfall of 170 mm, poor soils and different textures and diverse topography including different slope percentages and directions and altitudes up to 1700 meters. Due to the water shortage and dry climatic conditions of the province, Caper plant can be used for planting as a medicinal plant with very little water consumption. This plant has excellent capabilities for stabilizing quicksand, combating desertification, and restoring degraded lands. |
Article number: 5 |
| Keywords: Drought, Cultivation, Medicinal Plants, West Azerbaijan, caper plant |
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Full-Text [PDF 1325 kb]
(7 Downloads)
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Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2025/10/13 | Accepted: 2025/11/18 | Published: 2026/09/17
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