{"paper_id":"0939ef39-ebc2-41f2-b43e-938c74bb34c0","body_text":"Enhancing Soil Fertility in Arid and Semi-Arid Climates by Using Leguminous Trees: A Species-Specific Agroforestry Approach | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Enhancing Soil Fertility in Arid and Semi-Arid Climates by Using Leguminous Trees: A Species-Specific Agroforestry Approach Muhammad Madnee, Tanveer Hussain, Muhammad Abid, Muneeb Khalid, and 4 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-6966015/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract This study evaluates the species-specific impacts of leguminous trees on soil fertility in arid and semi-arid climates, focusing on their influence on key soil physicochemical properties across multiple depths. A three-year field experiment assessed four native leguminous species Dalbergia sissoo , Vachellia nilotica , Prosopis cineraria , and Albizzia lebbeck using a randomized complete block design. Soil samples were collected beneath and outside the canopy at four depths (0–15 cm, 15–30 cm, 30–45 cm, and 45–60 cm) for laboratory analysis. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were found among tree species and depths for parameters such as pH, moisture, saturation, electrical conductivity, organic matter, and macronutrients. D. sissoo had the highest soil pH (8.26), moisture (19.72%), and saturation (36.77%) at 0–30 cm. V. nilotica showed consistent organic matter and had the highest nitrogen content (11.1 mg/kg), while A. lebbeck contributed the most potassium (109 mg/kg), and D. sissoo led in phosphorus (9.1 mg/kg). P. cineraria and A. lebbeck significantly reduced soil electrical conductivity. Among all species, V. nilotica emerged as the most effective for enhancing soil fertility due to its balanced contributions to nitrogen and organic matter. The findings emphasize the critical role of species selection and depth-specific assessments in designing agroforestry systems aimed at improving soil health, boosting productivity, and supporting sustainable livelihoods in dryland farming systems. Forestry Arid Soil fertility Agroforestry Physicochemical Nitrogen Fixing Trees Full Text Additional Declarations The authors declare no competing interests. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {\"props\":{\"pageProps\":{\"initialData\":{\"identity\":\"rs-6966015\",\"acceptedTermsAndConditions\":true,\"allowDirectSubmit\":true,\"archivedVersions\":[],\"articleType\":\"Research Article\",\"associatedPublications\":[],\"authors\":[{\"id\":475779081,\"identity\":\"c2fc8e57-b5bd-4fb0-80f4-1eabea37318c\",\"order_by\":0,\"name\":\"Muhammad Madnee\",\"email\":\"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAABCUlEQVRIiWNgGAWjYFACHjDJ2AAkJIBYjg0swgaXIazFmHQtiQ2EtOjOyD346WaOnWyD2OGHtwsqbNL7JHIPMHwoO8xgznMAqxazG3nJ0rnbko0bpNOMrWecScttk8hLYJxx7jCDZW8DDi05BkAtzIkN0glm0rxth4FacgyYgQwGg/PYHQbUYvw7d1s9UEv6N2nef//T2UBa/uLXYga05TBQC5DB23AgAayFEaTlLA6HnXljZp277bhxm3ROsTXPsWTDNp53CQd7zqXzWPbg8P7xHOPbuduqZful0zfe5qmxk5dvzz344EeZtZw5TwJ2l8EAGzIHZDyPAX4N2AAZWkbBKBgFo2B4AgAD8FsuiswB2gAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==\",\"orcid\":\"\",\"institution\":\"Institute of Forest Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, 63100, Pakistan\",\"correspondingAuthor\":true,\"prefix\":\"\",\"firstName\":\"Muhammad\",\"middleName\":\"\",\"lastName\":\"Madnee\",\"suffix\":\"\"},{\"id\":475780241,\"identity\":\"ad25468e-a824-4d9c-907e-87c489f6631e\",\"order_by\":1,\"name\":\"Tanveer Hussain\",\"email\":\"\",\"orcid\":\"\",\"institution\":\"Institute of Forest Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, 63100, Pakistan\",\"correspondingAuthor\":false,\"prefix\":\"\",\"firstName\":\"Tanveer\",\"middleName\":\"\",\"lastName\":\"Hussain\",\"suffix\":\"\"},{\"id\":475780242,\"identity\":\"98b77114-ffdc-415b-9465-28abd34af2d7\",\"order_by\":2,\"name\":\"Muhammad Abid\",\"email\":\"\",\"orcid\":\"\",\"institution\":\"Institute of Forest Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, 63100, Pakistan\",\"correspondingAuthor\":false,\"prefix\":\"\",\"firstName\":\"Muhammad\",\"middleName\":\"\",\"lastName\":\"Abid\",\"suffix\":\"\"},{\"id\":475780243,\"identity\":\"8d238970-244d-4ba7-b18b-2ec9b629a194\",\"order_by\":3,\"name\":\"Muneeb Khalid\",\"email\":\"\",\"orcid\":\"\",\"institution\":\"Institute of Forest Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, 63100, Pakistan\",\"correspondingAuthor\":false,\"prefix\":\"\",\"firstName\":\"Muneeb\",\"middleName\":\"\",\"lastName\":\"Khalid\",\"suffix\":\"\"},{\"id\":475780244,\"identity\":\"dd33181e-5c1d-4adb-8d01-2f7d429b8742\",\"order_by\":4,\"name\":\"Muhammad Azeem Sabir\",\"email\":\"\",\"orcid\":\"\",\"institution\":\"Institute of Forest Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, 63100, Pakistan\",\"correspondingAuthor\":false,\"prefix\":\"\",\"firstName\":\"Muhammad\",\"middleName\":\"Azeem\",\"lastName\":\"Sabir\",\"suffix\":\"\"},{\"id\":475780245,\"identity\":\"f1818c2e-31a6-4c91-bad8-055185ab37c1\",\"order_by\":5,\"name\":\"Hussain Ahmed Makki\",\"email\":\"\",\"orcid\":\"\",\"institution\":\"Institute of Forest Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, 63100, Pakistan\",\"correspondingAuthor\":false,\"prefix\":\"\",\"firstName\":\"Hussain\",\"middleName\":\"Ahmed\",\"lastName\":\"Makki\",\"suffix\":\"\"},{\"id\":475780246,\"identity\":\"4b1be77b-7b8e-4927-9f6e-638ed2d1d31e\",\"order_by\":6,\"name\":\"Turkan Hasanova Allahverdi\",\"email\":\"\",\"orcid\":\"\",\"institution\":\"Department of Land Surveying and Real Estate Cadastre, Faculty of Ecology and Soil Science, Baku State University. 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A three-year field experiment assessed four native leguminous species \\u003cem\\u003eDalbergia sissoo\\u003c/em\\u003e, \\u003cem\\u003eVachellia nilotica\\u003c/em\\u003e, \\u003cem\\u003eProsopis cineraria\\u003c/em\\u003e, and \\u003cem\\u003eAlbizzia lebbeck\\u003c/em\\u003e using a randomized complete block design. Soil samples were collected beneath and outside the canopy at four depths (0\\u0026ndash;15 cm, 15\\u0026ndash;30 cm, 30\\u0026ndash;45 cm, and 45\\u0026ndash;60 cm) for laboratory analysis. Significant differences (p\\u0026thinsp;\\u0026lt;\\u0026thinsp;0.05) were found among tree species and depths for parameters such as pH, moisture, saturation, electrical conductivity, organic matter, and macronutrients. \\u003cem\\u003eD. sissoo\\u003c/em\\u003e had the highest soil pH (8.26), moisture (19.72%), and saturation (36.77%) at 0\\u0026ndash;30 cm. \\u003cem\\u003eV. nilotica\\u003c/em\\u003e showed consistent organic matter and had the highest nitrogen content (11.1 mg/kg), while \\u003cem\\u003eA. lebbeck\\u003c/em\\u003e contributed the most potassium (109 mg/kg), and \\u003cem\\u003eD. sissoo\\u003c/em\\u003e led in phosphorus (9.1 mg/kg). \\u003cem\\u003eP. cineraria\\u003c/em\\u003e and \\u003cem\\u003eA. lebbeck\\u003c/em\\u003e significantly reduced soil electrical conductivity. Among all species, \\u003cem\\u003eV. nilotica\\u003c/em\\u003e emerged as the most effective for enhancing soil fertility due to its balanced contributions to nitrogen and organic matter. 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