OICC Press Journal of Rangeland Science 2423-642X 15 4 2025 09 14 Effects of mulches and plant shelters on soil moisture, seedlings establishment and growth of Zygophyllum atriplicoides in an arid rangeland, Iran 1 10 10.57647/j.jrs.2025.1504.39 EN Mohammad Esforoghii Department of Range and Watershed Management, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran Mohammad Farzam Department of Range and Watershed Management, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran & ARC Research Center for Healing Country, Department of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Australia Mansoor Mesdaghi Department of Range and Watershed Management, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran Azam Khakzar Department of Range and Watershed Management, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran Journal Article 2025 09 14 Soil mulches and plant shelters may improve microclimate conditions and conserve soil moisture in arid ecosystems. Few studies have tested their effects on plant establishment in the arid steppe rangelands. Also, different methods have rarely been compared in a single study. We applied and monitored the effects of fragmented stones and shrub debris (as soil mulches), and plastic gallons (as plant shelters), along with a control treatment, on the newly planted seedlings of Zygophyllum atriplicoides, a native keystone shrub, in Zirkuh rangelands, Ghaen, eastern Iran. Seven times irrigation was applied on five treatments as control, within stone shelter, litter shelter, inside (PGI), and outside (PGO) plastic gallons, using a completely randomized design with four replications. The seedlings were irrigated five times from March 15 to August 21 in 2015 and twice on May 10 and June 5 in 2016. Seedling growth and survival rate were measured 7 times during two consecutive growing seasons, from February 2015 to September 2016. The highest increase (76%) in soil moisture conservation was found inside both PGI and PGO treatments. The highest (93.8%) establishment rate of Z. atriplicoides seedlings was found in the stone treatment. Plastic gallons increased shoot growth of Z. atriplicoides seedlings (PGI=219%, PGO=100%) as well as root volume (PGI=29%, PGO=27%) and root depth (PGI=13%, PGO=21%). Plastic gallon shelters increased seedling establishment in the first year (12%), but their efficiencies were lost as they were destroyed by the sunlight. Considering the relative cost, ecological, and environmental aspects, stone shelter is recommended as the best treatment for a higher establishment of Z. atriplicoides. Nevertheless, we also suggest further investigation on PG treatments, as they showed promising effects on plant growth and soil moisture conservation during the dry seasons.