Hosein Arzani; Mohammad reza Sadeghi manesh; Hosein Azarnivand; Ghasem Asadian; Ehsan Shahriari
Volume 15, Issue 1 , January 2008, , Pages 42-50
Abstract
Determination of grazing capacity depends on information about various factors such as forage quality and species nutrient values, and for achieve to ideal animal production information about nutrient value are very important. In this trial, nutrient values of twelve species were to evaluate, that were ...
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Determination of grazing capacity depends on information about various factors such as forage quality and species nutrient values, and for achieve to ideal animal production information about nutrient value are very important. In this trial, nutrient values of twelve species were to evaluate, that were grazed by Mehraban sheep in two phenological stages (vegetative and maturity) in two sites of AghDagh & Galebor at Hamadan province. Forage quality indices as Crude protein (CP), acid detergent fiber (minus Hemicelluloses) (ADF),dry matter digestibility (DMD) and metabolisable energy (ME) were measured respectively. According to the results, significant differences were observed among the species and phonological stages for all measured and calculated forage quality factors (p<0.05). Generally, Information about forage quality factors is essential for animal nutrition management in rangeland and it should be considered in range and animal management designs.
Hosein Arzani; Mahdi Abedi; Ehsan Shahriyari; Mahdi Ghorbani
Volume 14, Issue 1 , January 2007, , Pages 68-79
Abstract
Management activities like grazing intensity and land cultivation effects rangelands characteristic. For sustainable utilization of rangeland, information of changes is required. Soil surface indicators and functional attributes help to judging about management impact. So for investigation on these activities ...
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Management activities like grazing intensity and land cultivation effects rangelands characteristic. For sustainable utilization of rangeland, information of changes is required. Soil surface indicators and functional attributes help to judging about management impact. So for investigation on these activities effects in semi arid rangeland, one vegetation community was selected in Taleghan region. Five cases including: three grazing intensities (heavy, moderate and low), recently cultivated and relict areas that were cultivated in last two decades were assessed. Landscape function analysis (LFA) method was used to evaluate management effects on soil surface characteristics and rangeland functional attributes. In this method for determination of three functional attributes of stability, infiltration and nutrient cycle, 11 soil surface indicators were considered. They are soil surface cover (soil protection from erosion), perennial canopy/basal cover, litter (cover, origin, degree of decomposition), cryptogam cover, crust brokenness, type and severity of erosion, deposited material, soil surface roughness, soil surface resistance to distribution, slake test (soil stability test) and texture. Based on the results, land cultivation reduced functional attributes. By increasing grazing intensity, palatable species are eliminated and in heavy grazing area the dominated vegetation cover are annuals. Vegetation and soil surface layer degradation increased soil erosion, created gully and reduced functional attributes. In relict area because of re-establishing homogenous annuals, soil indicators and functional attribute were improved.