Ardavan Ghorbani; Ardashir Pournemati; Nazila Bibak
Volume 26, Issue 1 , June 2019, , Pages 1-17
Abstract
The aim of this study was to assess the rangeland health of North Sabalan in three-elevation classes (less than 1500, 1500 to 2100, and 2100 to 2700 meters), which were the representative of rural, rural-nomad, and nomad rangelands, using the landscape function analysis (LFA) in Ardabil ...
Read More
The aim of this study was to assess the rangeland health of North Sabalan in three-elevation classes (less than 1500, 1500 to 2100, and 2100 to 2700 meters), which were the representative of rural, rural-nomad, and nomad rangelands, using the landscape function analysis (LFA) in Ardabil province. For sampling, three 50-meter transects were established in each elevation class according to the uniformity of the habitat and distribution of patches. Using the LFA framework, three characteristics including stability, infiltration and nutrient cycling of soil surface were determined using 11 indicators. Statistical analysis of data was conducted using the LFA method and instructions of Tongway and Hindley in Excel software. The soil stability index for vegetation life forms in the elevation class of 2100 to 2700 m was more than that of the other two elevation classes, with significant difference (P>0.05); however, there was no significant difference between the first and the second class .Comparison of the infiltration and nutrient cycling indices for vegetation life forms in the elevation class of 2100 to 2700 m was also more than those of the other two elevation classes with significant differences (P<0.05). The stability index in the third elevation class (72.35) and in the second class (48.75), the infiltration index in the third elevation class (73.31) and in the first elevation class (15.99), and the nutrient cycling index in the third elevation class (78.75) and in the first elevation class (10.12) had the highest and least values, respectively. Overall, the health condition of the third elevation class was better than the other two classes. By examining the functional characteristics of ecological patches, we can identify the vegetation indicators affecting rangeland health, and then conduct proper management to protect that ecosystem.
Mohammadtaghi Kashki; Reza Ghafourian; Mohammad Khosroshahi
Volume 12, Issue 1 , August 2019, , Pages 1-20
Anoushivan Mohseni; Shahrokh Mohseni
Volume 10, Issue 1 , August 2019, , Pages 1-16
Morteza Akbarzadeh; Sergon Odisho
Volume 8, Issue 3 , September 2019, , Pages 1-23
Naser Ansari
Volume 8, Issue 2 , September 2019, , Pages 1-26
Abbas kianipour; Amrali Shahmoradi
Volume 11, Issue 1 , September 2019, , Pages 1-18
Ayad Aazami; Morteza Akberzadeh; Mashaallah Mohmadpour
Volume 27, Issue 1 , April 2020, , Pages 1-12
Abstract
Rangeland capacity depends on forage produced in the rangeland, the permitted range of plant species, forage quality and rangeland health. Range species have a certain production in months and years. Without recognize properties production plants and the rate consumption forage rangeland cannot programming ...
Read More
Rangeland capacity depends on forage produced in the rangeland, the permitted range of plant species, forage quality and rangeland health. Range species have a certain production in months and years. Without recognize properties production plants and the rate consumption forage rangeland cannot programming and management at during a period of grazing. This study was conducted at 2009-2013 years, and rate forage production and utilization was measured. The rate of precipitation annual at 3 years were 138, 200 and 330 millimeter respectively. The results showed that total forage production was significantly different between years (p<0.01). Forage production were 485.7, 1372 and 1844.4 Kg per hectare respectively. The amount of production in the months of growing season (March to August) were significantly different, so 94.7 of pasture growth in the first 2 months (March and April) and three fifths% by feed-in last 4 months. The annual consumption of respectively 400 and 751 and 490 kg per hectare. Although not statistically significant, But in the dry year of 2008, 83% and in the wet year of 1389, 26.6% were used of pasture production. Therefore, in drought, at the same time as the reduction in forage production, the livestock utilization rate increased by 83%, which is not proportional to the rangeland capacity. Therefore, in order to achieve sustainable production, proper management of rangeland and the use of indigenous species such as Onosma bulbotrichum, Ankyropetalum gypsophiloides, Convolvulus reticulatus and Salvia compressa are recommended.
Firoozeh Nassaj; Hossein Heidary
Volume 6, Issue 1 , July 1999, , Pages 1-102
Mohammad Darvish
Volume 7, Issue 1 , July 2000, , Pages 1-52
Abbas Ali Sanadgol; Mohammad Reza Moghaddam
Volume 9, Issue 1 , July 2002, , Pages 1-14
. .
Volume 9, Issue 4 , July 2020, , Pages 1-20
Eshagh Omidvar; Hossein Arzani; Saeed Mohtashamnia; Seyed Akbar Javadi; Mohammad Jafary
Volume 28, Issue 1 , April 2021, , Pages 1-10
Abstract
Regardless of rangeland plant production, it is not possible to plan and manage livestock and rangeland. Attention to rangeland forage production is essential for efficient and effective rangeland management. This importance is determined by identifying the relationship between forage ...
Read More
Regardless of rangeland plant production, it is not possible to plan and manage livestock and rangeland. Attention to rangeland forage production is essential for efficient and effective rangeland management. This importance is determined by identifying the relationship between forage production of plants and climatic variables which affect them in the field. For this purpose, the annual forage production values of rangeland index species were measured in Omidabad Eastern site during the years of 1998-2008 for 10 years in the national plan for rangeland assessment of different climatic zones and their re-measurement during the years of 2017-2018 for two years by cutting and weighing in 60 random plots of two square meters along four 300-meter tracts. The amount of rainfall and monthly temperature in this time interval were also calculated using the data of Abadeh meteorological station in all months separately each year. The amount of annual dry forage production of each species as a dependent variable and the amount of rainfall and temperature calculated as independent variables and relationships between them were investigated using a linear multivariate regression program in SPSS software. The results showed that rainfall, winter, and fall temperatures had a significant effect on species production and spring rains as well as the temperature of the growing season, in April and May, alone did not affect the forage production of the species and based on the results research, with the availability of rainfall and temperature data, the annual forage production of the studied species and the annual production of the coming years can be estimated with high accuracy.
Amir Ghorbankhani; Hossein Arzani; Ali Tavili; Javad Motamedi
Volume 29, Issue 1 , February 2022, , Pages 1-10
Abstract
Salsola laricina is one of the main elements of vegetation communities in the steppe rangelands of the dryland region, which protects it from disturbances and provides conditions that can preserve its ability to rehabilitate after chest, is one of the basic requirements of rangeland management in such ...
Read More
Salsola laricina is one of the main elements of vegetation communities in the steppe rangelands of the dryland region, which protects it from disturbances and provides conditions that can preserve its ability to rehabilitate after chest, is one of the basic requirements of rangeland management in such fields. Therefore, in the present study, the variability of structural and functional traits and morphological characteristics and seed germination were tested under supportive grazing. For this purpose, by establishing a sampling system inside and outside of the 10 year old Khoshkerood detention, the vegetation cover and structural and functional traits of Salsola laricina species, such as crown cover, density and forage production in the field were measured. Seed of healthy and healthy rootstocks, morphological characteristics and seed germination, such as; 1000 seed weight, germination percentage, germination rate, root length, stem, seedling, and finally vigor index (straw) Seed) was measured in laboratory conditions. The results showed that the values of structural and functional traits, inside the enclosure, are more than outside the enclosure. In this regard, the percentage of crown cover, density, and amount of production of Salsola laricina species were respectively in the enclosure relative to the outcrop, 5.46 and 3.6%, 21600 and 17000 bases per hectare and 161.4 and 12.71 kg respectively hectare. The average of morphological and germination characteristics of the seeds collected from the intruder was also greater than the outside grazing. So that the highest index of seed vigor as a sum of outcomes of morphological and germinating properties in inoculated and outcroped seeds is 389.88 and 1037.37, respectively. The increase of these values in the enclosure relative to the outcrop; indicates the effect of supportive grazing on the improvement of structural and functional characteristics and the morphological and seed germination characteristics of rangeland species in vulnerable ecosystems in arid areas.
Javad Motamedi; Esmaeil Sheidai-Karkaj; Yaser Ghasemi Aryan
Volume 30, Issue 1 , April 2023, , Pages 1-23
Abstract
The presentation of management models in the natural area is of great importance due to the large extent and inaccessibility of the whole surface. In this regard, Imam Kandi mountain rangelands were targeted for presenting a spatial-ecological model. Homogeneous ecological units were prepared by incorporating ...
Read More
The presentation of management models in the natural area is of great importance due to the large extent and inaccessibility of the whole surface. In this regard, Imam Kandi mountain rangelands were targeted for presenting a spatial-ecological model. Homogeneous ecological units were prepared by incorporating layers of elevation, slope, geographical orientation and plant types. Considering the ecological and environmental characteristics of each homogeneous ecological unit and considering the criteria and index for evaluating rangeland utilization, we evaluated the power and suitability of using rangelands. According to the range condition and trend of the rangeland, the rangeland method and grazing systems were presented for each of the classes. Based on the results of 23 homogeneous ecological units, it was identified that many of them belong to rangeland lands with grades 1 to 3. Accordingly, equilibrium range management was considered in 26.9% (244.4 ha) of rangelands with good condition and class 1 power. In 37.4% (346.4 hectares) with moderate condition and class 2 power, natural range management was recommended. Artificial range management or range improvement were recommended for 35.7% (329.9 ha) of poor and class 3 land. In order to prevent erosion and increase forage production, artificial range management was recommended for abandoned fields. The results indicate that application of spatial-ecological model and consequently identification of ecological homogeneous zones as management and planning units at macro level as a cost-effective method, in addition to assessing rangelands power, can enable rangeland management in proposing the rangeland method and grazing systems and assist in localization of range improvement operations.
Hosein Tavakoli Neko; Schahram Banedjschafie; Abbas Pourmeidani
Volume 31, Issue 1 , June 2024, , Pages 1-14
Abstract
Background and objectivesThe vast country of Iran, due to its location in the arid region of the earth and the lack of rainfall, has suffered from drought and groundwater depletion. The reduction of precipitation and soil moisture has a great effect on soil vegetation. The use of various types of moisture ...
Read More
Background and objectivesThe vast country of Iran, due to its location in the arid region of the earth and the lack of rainfall, has suffered from drought and groundwater depletion. The reduction of precipitation and soil moisture has a great effect on soil vegetation. The use of various types of moisture absorbent materials that reduce water consumption and increase the time of plant access to water in the soil plays a big role in water conservation. Plantbac panels are made from cellulose waste and can be used to increase the water retention capacity of the soil in dry areas, especially in desert areas. MethodologyIn order to investigate the effect of Plantbac panels on the amount of water consumption and growth of Atriplex plant, the research was carried out in the area of Hesarsokh located ten kilometers north-east of Qom city for three years (2019-2021). The experiment was carried out as split plots in the form of randomized complete blocks including 12 plots in three replications. The main plot included irrigation treatments at intervals of 10 days (control) and 20 days, and the sub-plot included two treatments of using and not using Plantbac panels (control). To investigate the effect of Plantbac panels on seedling growth at the end of each growing season in each year, traits including: survival, height and crown diameter of the seedling were measured and compared with the control of the same treatment. Statistical analyzes including minimum and maximum traits, standard deviation, simple variance analysis of variables, compound analysis, comparison of averages with least significant difference (LSD) method for seedling height growth and crown diameter growth traits were performed. ResultsThere was no difference in seedling survival in the treatments of using Plantbac and control in irrigation with a 10 days interval. While in the treatment of Plantbac panels and the control, 5% of the seedlings were dried, and in the treatment of using the Plantbac panels, 21% and 40% of the seedlings were seen in the control. Combined variance analysis showed that the simple effects of using Plantbac panels, year and the interaction effect of irrigation in the year on the height growth of Atriplex were significant (P≤0.01). Also, the effect of irrigation treatments, the use of Plantbac panels, the mutual effect of irrigation in the year and the effect of the year had a significant difference in the diameter growth trait of the crown of Atriplex seedlings (P≤0.05). The comparison of the average traits showed that the Atriplex seedlings in the "3rd year × 20 days irrigation interval" had the highest height 6.32 cm, and in the "1st year × 20 days irrigation interval" with 9.75 cm, had the lowest height growth. Also, Atriplex seedlings had the highest crown diameter growth in the "3rd year × irrigation interval 10 days " with 22.11 cm growth, and the lowest crown diameter growth had in the "2nd year × 20 day interval irrigation" with 17.33 cm. ConclusionThe results of the research showed that the effect of Plantbac panels on the traits indicating the growth of Atriplex is effective. The use Plantbac panels reduces losses in the survival of Atriplex seedlings. In other words, the use of Plantbac panels can have an effect in reducing the losses of Atriplex seedlings in saline lands. Also, the height growth of Atriplex in the treatment of using Plantbac panels was higher than the control. The general results of the research showed that the use of Plantbac panels can have an effect in reducing the losses of Atriplex in saline lands. Also, the diameter and height growth of Atriplex in the following years of planting was higher than the first year, which can be due to the possibility of establishing and improving the soil conditions for plant growth in the following years after planting as a result of using Plantbac panels.
Yaser GHasemi Arian; Hadi Eskandari Dam aneh; Maryam Naeimi; Adel Jalili; Samira Zandifar; Azadeh Gohardoust; Sakineh Lotfinasabasl
Volume 32, Issue 1 , May 2025, , Pages 1-17
Abstract
Background and objectivesLand subsidence, primarily caused by excessive groundwater extraction, constitutes the most advanced and irreversible stage of desertification and land degradation. While this phenomenon poses a significant threat to numerous plains and major urban centers across Iran, existing ...
Read More
Background and objectivesLand subsidence, primarily caused by excessive groundwater extraction, constitutes the most advanced and irreversible stage of desertification and land degradation. While this phenomenon poses a significant threat to numerous plains and major urban centers across Iran, existing desertification assessment models have largely overlooked subsidence rates and the agricultural sector's substantial groundwater consumption. This study evaluates desertification intensity in the Qaraqom basin through the dual lenses of water resource utilization and land subsidence dynamics.MethodologyThe study employed the Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) method in GIS 10.8 to create zonation maps for three critical groundwater indices: electrical conductivity (EC), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), and groundwater level decline. Data from 273 observation wells (2001-2018) were classified into four desertification intensity categories (low, moderate, severe, and very severe). These maps were integrated with a land subsidence rate map (2015-2016 water year) derived from Sentinel-1 satellite imagery provided by the Geological Survey of Iran. Additionally, reservoir volume changes (1985-2018) were analyzed for each aquifer to assess their relationship with subsidence patterns.ResultsAnalysis revealed severe to very severe desertification across 46.6% of the basin based on EC values, while SAR indicated low degradation in 90.6% of the area. Groundwater depletion showed the most critical conditions, with 53.4% of the basin experiencing severe to very severe impacts, particularly in the Sarakhs, Fariman-Torbat Jam, southwest Mashhad, and Narimani aquifers. Subsidence rates reached severe levels in 18.1% of the basin, with maximum values observed in the Mashhad, Fariman-Torbat Jam, Taybad, and Karat aquifers. The Mashhad aquifer demonstrated the highest subsidence rates and the most significant reservoir volume changes. Integrated assessment of groundwater and subsidence criteria classified 55.9% of the Qara Qom watershed as moderately affected and 26.1% as low-intensity desertification.ConclusionAs agriculture represents the dominant water consumer in the basin, immediate implementation of water efficiency and productivity measures in this sector is crucial to prevent irreversible socio-economic and ecological consequences of ongoing desertification and land degradation.
Ebrahim Farahani; Khalil Falahi; Kosar Mirzakhani
Volume 14, Issue 1 , January 2007, , Pages 8-18
Abstract
Rehabilitation of arid and semi-arid rangelands need particular species which are well-adapted to unsuitable regional and ecological condition and can produce enough forages for livestock, rich in nutrition andpalatability as well. Atriplex canescens, an exotic evergreen species which is resistant to ...
Read More
Rehabilitation of arid and semi-arid rangelands need particular species which are well-adapted to unsuitable regional and ecological condition and can produce enough forages for livestock, rich in nutrition andpalatability as well. Atriplex canescens, an exotic evergreen species which is resistant to drought and chilling, has been planted in some rangelands of Iran for several years. Major objectives of this experiment was to determine the best seeding date for producing seedlings and proper young plants for transplanting. Complete Randomized Design with treatment of seeding dates and 3 replications were used in this study. Four characteristics including percentage survivals, plant height, root length and number of branches were measured and analysed statistically. Overall data indicated that mid-August is the best seeding date for desert condition of the study area.
Mohammad ali Meshkat; Mohammad reza Daneshvar; Mohammad reza Ekhtesasi; Kazem Dashtakian
Volume 13, Issue 1 , February 2006, , Pages 10-16
Abstract
Desertification is important for our country because it refer to land degradation in arid, semi-arid and arid sub - humid zones due to climatic and human agents. General and continuous study, local and exact investigation,and use of current quantitative models is necessary to better understanding of ...
Read More
Desertification is important for our country because it refer to land degradation in arid, semi-arid and arid sub - humid zones due to climatic and human agents. General and continuous study, local and exact investigation,and use of current quantitative models is necessary to better understanding of land degradation process and desert development. In this research that is based on FAO/UNEP provisional methodology , some of the main desertification processes such as: vegetation destruction, wind erosion, and salinization were studied from two aspects:1) current status and 2) inherent risk. This area covers about 327700 hectars, extends to north of Yazd - Ardakan basin. Then, six maps were drawn for three processes and for two aspects which mentioned above, separately in 1:50000 scale, when the field observations and measurements were carried out. Finally two equal maps were provided by combination of six previous maps . Results of this investigation show that at the present time degrees of vegetation destruction, salinization, and wind erosion are ,, severe to very severe ,, ,,,medium to severe ,,, and,, slight to medium,, respectively . However, degrees of these processes from inherent risk aspect are ,, very severe ,, , ,, medium to severe,,, and,, medium to severe,, respectively. Although the FAO/UNEP methodology is the best model , however it has still some problems, such as: Non quantitative of some criteria; Non sensitivity of some indexes to slight changses ; Non measureable of some criteria; and Non equal the number of indexes in different processes.
Taghi Mirhaji; Abbas Ali Sanadgol; Ali Ashraf Jafari
Volume 20, Issue 1 , June 2013, , Pages 11-22
Abstract
The evaluation of Festuca ovina L. with 16 accessions was carried out at Homand-Abesard Rangeland Research Station in order to select the best accession in terms of measured variables. The experiment started in 2003 and continued to 2007. After soil preparation, all accessions were planted on lines with ...
Read More
The evaluation of Festuca ovina L. with 16 accessions was carried out at Homand-Abesard Rangeland Research Station in order to select the best accession in terms of measured variables. The experiment started in 2003 and continued to 2007. After soil preparation, all accessions were planted on lines with 13 m length with 75 cm intervals. The measured traits for plant selection were as follows: forage production, canopy cover, height, seed yield, number of flowering stems, leaf density, plant freshness and basal area. All data were statistically analyzed by SPSS annually and averages were compared using Duncan method. Results showed that there were significant differences among the measured traits and accessions (P≤0.05) in all studied years (2003-2007). In terms of seed yield and forage production, accession 10661 showed superiority to other accessions. This value was 1015 and 8.792 kg per hectare, respectively and the lowest amounts (307 and 6.133) were allocated to accession 10,679. Also, comparison of averages in different years showed that the highest amounts of pure seed in the fourth year were 1066 and 120.76 Kg per hectare, respectively. In addition, mean value comparison of canopy cover and basal area showed that accession 10671 with 2075 cm2 canopy cover and 731 cm2 basal area had superiority to other accessions recorded in 2006 and 2007. Among 8 studied traits in the nursery, 4 traits had effective and similar influence in accessions grouping. Therefore, similar accessions may be separated using fewer traits which are easily measurable and common in range management.
Mahdi Adnani; Abbas Pourmeidani; Mahdi Farahpour
Volume 16, Issue 1 , December 2009, , Pages 11-21
Abstract
This research plan was accomplished for introducing suitable plant species in semi-steppic regions of Qom province for increasing of the forage production in destroyed rangelands. The study area was in Veshnaveh with altitude of 2000 m above sea level and the annual rate of precipitation about 290 mm. ...
Read More
This research plan was accomplished for introducing suitable plant species in semi-steppic regions of Qom province for increasing of the forage production in destroyed rangelands. The study area was in Veshnaveh with altitude of 2000 m above sea level and the annual rate of precipitation about 290 mm. The seeds of range species were cultivated in complete randomized block design. Three times of cultivation were done during 1377-80 that the first and second cultivations were unsuccessful due to insufficient quantity and distribution of precipitation. The third cultivation was done in 1379 and data recorded for 3 years. Of twelve cultivated species only four species of Festuca rubra, Festuca ovina, Elymus junceus,and Agropyron trichophorum did not germinated. 25 to 35 percent of Agropyron cristatum, Agropyron desertorum, Stipa barbata and 55 to 85 percent of Bromus tomentellus, Hordeum bulbosum, Secale montanum and Psatyrostachys fragilis were established. Psatyrostachys fragilis and Secale montanum reached to seed stage at first year and other species excluding Stipa barbata reached to flowering stage in the second year. Stipa barbata flowered in the third year. The percentage of flowering was different in all of the species. Analysis of variance of data showed survival of species had a significant difference in third year after inplanting (p=0.01).The means comparison of survival in grasses indicated that Psatyrostachys fragilis and Hordeum bulbosum had the most survival percentage so these species had the best adaptation into climatic and edaphic conditions of the area under study.
Mehdi Ganji; Gholamreza Zehtabian; Mohammad Jafary; Hasan Khosravi; Reyhaneh Masoudi
Volume 22, Issue 1 , June 2015, , Pages 12-20
Abstract
In many parts of arid and semi-arid regions of Iran, agricultural activities such as mismanagement of land as well as inappropriate irrigation systems have seriously led to land degradation and desertification. Therefore, it is necessary to do some researches in order to determine which region is suitable ...
Read More
In many parts of arid and semi-arid regions of Iran, agricultural activities such as mismanagement of land as well as inappropriate irrigation systems have seriously led to land degradation and desertification. Therefore, it is necessary to do some researches in order to determine which region is suitable for agriculture or not and if the region is suitable, what type of agriculture management should be applied prevalently. To achieve this goal, a region in Arak Mighan playa (Savarabad watershed) was chosen. At first, different maps of region including soil map, elevation and land use maps were prepared by ArcGIS 10.1. Five land uses were recognized as treatments including garden lands, dry farming systems, irrigation lands, dry lands and rangelands. Soil samples were taken and soil factors including N, Ca, Mg, and Humus as well as degradation factors such as EC, SAR, pH, Na and Hco3 were measured at two depths of 0-30 cm and 30-60 cm. The analysis of factors was done by SPSS software and results showed that there were significant differences among treatments based on Duncan test. In addition, rangeland was identified as a favorable treatment in terms of EC, pH, SAR in the surface layer. According to the results, it was found that rangelands had ideal conditions and dry farming and dry lands were identified as the most unfavorable treatments.
Ali Ehsani; Mamak Ahmadian; Saeed Rashvand; Mohammad Ali Dehghani Tafti; Mostafa Zare
Volume 21, Issue 1 , June 2014, , Pages 13-23
Abstract
Study of the phenology of range key species is important to regulate and apply proper management for sustainable utilization of rangeland forage. In this study, the phenological stages of Artemisia aucheri were examined as a key species at three sites of different semi-steppe regions during 2007-2010. ...
Read More
Study of the phenology of range key species is important to regulate and apply proper management for sustainable utilization of rangeland forage. In this study, the phenological stages of Artemisia aucheri were examined as a key species at three sites of different semi-steppe regions during 2007-2010. For this purpose, in each site, 10 individuals were selected and different phenological stages were recorded in 15-day and 7-day intervals for vegetative stage and reproductive stage, respectively. In addition, meteorological data including temperature and precipitation were recorded from the nearest synoptic station for each site. Results indicated that the occurrence of phenological phenomena of Artimisia aucheriwas more affected by temperature and precipitation indices of the growing season. According to the obtained results, the start and end of grazing were determined as early May to late October for Shirkooh (Yazd province), late May and early June to mid-July for Anjadan (Markazi province), and second half of May to mid September for Alamoot (Ghazvin province). Consequently, a complete understanding on the phenological stages of Ar. aucheri enables us to plan grazing management in order to determine the time of livestock entry into and exit from rangelands, optimal number of livestock for grazing and proper grazing systems.
Mirtaher Ghaiemi; Abassali Sandgol
Volume 15, Issue 1 , January 2008, , Pages 13-25
Abstract
The major objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of the 5-year exclosure at Goladam station of Salmas rangelands.Vegetation type and dominant species of this area was Bromus tomentellus and Festuca ovina. Changes in total forage production, plus canopy cover percentage, range condition ...
Read More
The major objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of the 5-year exclosure at Goladam station of Salmas rangelands.Vegetation type and dominant species of this area was Bromus tomentellus and Festuca ovina. Changes in total forage production, plus canopy cover percentage, range condition and trend of this rangeland were measured, evaluated and then analysed statistically. Results of this study indicated that range condition and trend of this rangeland improved considerably. Total plant cover and forage production of the protected area increased.Vegetation cover and density of the plant species class I and IIincreased whilespeciesclass IIIdecreasedconsiderably throughout the study period. It seems that the 5-year exclosure is an appropriate exclusionperiod for this area. Further investigations are recommended for find decisions.
Parya Kamali; Reza Erfanzadeh; Seyed Hamzeh Kahnoooj
Volume 23, Issue 1 , June 2016, , Pages 14-22
Abstract
Determining the forage quality of plant species is among the factors necessary for proper range management. Therefore, the crude protein of 14 species was measured in two phenological stages in Kahnuj (Kerman province) using Kjeldahl methodology. The crude protein content of the study species was compared ...
Read More
Determining the forage quality of plant species is among the factors necessary for proper range management. Therefore, the crude protein of 14 species was measured in two phenological stages in Kahnuj (Kerman province) using Kjeldahl methodology. The crude protein content of the study species was compared using ANOVA, and a paired t test was used to compare the crude protein content of each species between the two phenological stages. In addition, one-sample t-test was used to compare the average crude protein with critical level. According to the obtained results, the protein content of the study species showed significant differences at each phenological stage, so that in the vegetative stage, the highest and lowest crude protein was recorded for Astragalus triboloides (19.61%) and Ziziphus spina-christ (4.18%), respectively. In seed ripening stage, the highest and lowest crude protein content was recorded for Rhazia stricta (14.85%) and Stipa capensis (5.23%), respectively. The crude protein showed a downward trend for all species except two. The average content of crude protein measured at vegetative stage was higher as compared with the critical level. However, this difference was not significant for the second stage. Overall, preservation and development of species having high percentage of crude protein with low changes in protein during the growing season like Taverniera cuneifolia is recommended.
fahimeh Arab; Ali- Ashraf Jafari; Mohammad- Hassan Assareh; Mohammad Jafari; Ali Tavili
Volume 18, Issue 1 , May 2011, , Pages 17-31
Abstract
Agropyron deserterum andAg. elongatum species have a high value for both fresh and dry forage and because of high production and top acceptance by livestock they have specific value in the beginning of the growth season for livestock grazing. This research was conducted to study the effects of ...
Read More
Agropyron deserterum andAg. elongatum species have a high value for both fresh and dry forage and because of high production and top acceptance by livestock they have specific value in the beginning of the growth season for livestock grazing. This research was conducted to study the effects of salinity stress on the mentioned species in germination and vegetative growth stages. A completely randomized design including five levels of 0, 100, 200, 300 and 400 mM NaCl and CaCl2 with 4 replications was used. Seeds were sown in laboratory and germination percentage, germination velocity, vigor index, plumule and radicle length and seedling dry weight were calculated. In greenhouse condition, shoot and root length, seedling dry weight, dry weight to fresh weight ratio, leaf area and specific leaf area were measured. According to the results, in both studied species germination percentage, plumule and radicle length, seedling dry weight, leaf area and specific leaf area were reduced with increase of salinity. The results showed significant differences between two species for germination percentage and germination velocity (P≤0.01). In both germination and vegetative growth stages, Ag.elongatum was more salt tolerant than Ag.desertorum. The results indicated that Ag.elongatum was more salt tolerant species than Ag.desertorum and it can be recommended for cultivation in moderate saline rangelands.