Mohebi Mohebbi; Alireza Eftekhari; Mahshid Souri; Saeedeh Nateghi
Volume 33, Issue 1 , May 2026, , Pages 31-40
Abstract
Extended abstractBackground and objectives: Efforts for sustainable management of rangelands require evaluation and monitoring in different temporal and spatial scales. It is necessary to identify the most important climatic effects and how they affect vegetation factors in the field of optimal rangeland ...
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Extended abstractBackground and objectives: Efforts for sustainable management of rangelands require evaluation and monitoring in different temporal and spatial scales. It is necessary to identify the most important climatic effects and how they affect vegetation factors in the field of optimal rangeland management. Sablan peak is the third highest peak in the country and is known as the livestock hub of Ardabil province. Considering the importance of Sablan rangelands in the economy and livelihood of the residents of the region, maintaining water and soil and other important services, it is necessary to organize a suitable management plan for its long-term use and to determine a model to predict the percentage of canopy cover and its biomass rate. Materials and methods: For this purpose, basic and annual information on canopy percentage, biomass and condition, and climatic information such as rainfall and temperature are needed. Also, obtaining a model that can estimate the percentage of canopy cover and biomass with acceptable accuracy and precision without visiting in person; it is one of the priorities of rangeland management in the region. Based on this, in order to identify the most effective climate factors and determine the relevant model, Shabil Sabalan site in Ardabil province was evaluated and monitored for 5 years (2017-2021). Vegetative factors, including crown percentage of total cover and biomass rate, and functional factors, including rangeland condition and tendency, were evaluated during a 5-year period. Evaluations were carried out in a 50-hectare site named Shabil at the foot of Sablan Mountains in Lahrood section of Meshginshahr city with Festuca ovina-Bromus tomentellus-Onobrychis cornuta plant type. This site is a representative area for rangelands in the north of Sablan in terms of plant and functional traits. The key area of two hectares with a height of 2805 meters inside the site was considered for the implementation of the plan and evaluation. The average long-term rainfall of 30 years leading to the year of its study is 460 mm. To analyze the data, General Linear Model test was used in Minitab 16 software. Pearson correlation test and stepwise regression were used to check and determine the correlation of environmental and vegetation data and to identify the most effective factors and predict the model. Results: The results of the evaluation of plant factors, the percentage of canopy coverage and biomass showed that the highest amount of coverage and biomass was obtained in one year after with the highest amount of rainfall. Therefore, the analysis of the variance of canopy percentage and biomass during the studied years was significant at the level of 1%. The results of the evaluation of the site-based or environmental factor of the rangeland condition also showed that the best amount of rangeland condition was obtained in years with more rainfall and more coverage and biomass. In examining the correlation between the studied indicators, the percentage of vegetation with autumn and winter rainfall showed a significant positive correlation at the level of 5%, but biomass was not correlated with any of the studied variables. The results of the step-by-step regression also showed that among the analyzed indicators, autumn and winter rainfall is the most effective factor in predicting the percentage of vegetation and total rainfall, and autumn and winter rainfall are also the most effective factors in predicting biomass at a probability level of 5% were in the region. Conclusion: The three important indicators of canopy percentage, biomass and condition have performed well in showing the difference of different years, but the vegetation index has the highest correlation and due to the ease of vegetation evaluation compared to biomass evaluation, therefore the annual evaluation of canopy percentage Coverage as the most important factor can help in determining the prediction model. With the continuation of data collection, stronger and more accurate models can be obtained to estimate the canopy percentage and the amount of biomass
Mahshid Souri; MIna Bayat; Saeedeh Nateghi
Volume 32, Issue 2 , July 2025, , Pages 109-123
Abstract
Background and objectives:Poor establishment of seeds, especially in arid and semi-arid areas, reduces the performance of rangeland plants, increasing the speed of germination and establishment of seedlings can cause them to absorb water and nutrients more quickly. The priming treatment shortens the ...
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Background and objectives:Poor establishment of seeds, especially in arid and semi-arid areas, reduces the performance of rangeland plants, increasing the speed of germination and establishment of seedlings can cause them to absorb water and nutrients more quickly. The priming treatment shortens the planting time until greening, protects the seeds and greens uniformly, which ultimately leads to uniform establishment and improved yield in the product. The aim of this research is to introduce the most effective priming on germination, height, yield, root and stem weight of Astragalus squarrosus Bunge species.Methodology:In this research, the effect of hydropriming, osmopriming and hormone priming on factors of germination, height, yield, root and stem weight of Astragalus squarrosus Bunge was investigated. The seeds of three ecotypes of Yazd, Semnan and Kashan were primed separately under hydropriming (distilled water), hormone priming (gibberellic acid 500 ppm) and osmopriming polyethylene glycol 6000 at two levels (-0.4 and -0.8 MPa). The statistical analysis of experiment was carried out in SPSS software at the form of a factorial design by applying two factors (priming treatment and drought stress treatment) on the collected seeds of three populations from three regions, Astragalus squarrosus Bunge species in the greenhouse.Results: Examining the results showed the significance of the priming effect on the indices of germination percentage, yield, height, root and stem weight of Astragalus squarrosus Bunge at the error level of 1%. The investigated characteristics of the seeds that were exposed to different types of priming were significantly different from each other compared to the control seeds. According to the results, the highest plant height (40 cm) and fodder yield (42 g/m2), germination percentage (38.7 percent), root weight (37 g) and stem weight (42.8 g) in ecotype Yazd using hydropriming treatment and under drought stress has reached 75% of the farm capacity, the second place was observed in osmopriming (polyethylene glycol) treatment. The results of this research showed that the best performance and result for planting Astragalus squarrosus Bunge in the direction of reviving degraded dry rangelands is hydropriming (distilled water) along with seed scraping.Conclusion: Based on the results obtained from this research and also, considering the fact that hydropriming is much cheaper and simpler than osmopriming and hormone priming, therefore, hydropriming is introduced as a treatment to improve the performance of nether species. This issue can be taken into the attention of rangeland operators and experts in improving the function and performance of this type of valuable local fodder.
Saeedeh Nateghi; Morteza Khodagholi; Mahshid Souri
Volume 31, Issue 3 , September 2024, , Pages 301-322
Abstract
Abstract Introduction Rangeland ecosystems are very important and sensitive to changes in environmental factors. Small changes in temperature and rainfall regime or other climatic events can fundamentally reduce the composition, distribution and dispersion of plant species as well as ...
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Abstract Introduction Rangeland ecosystems are very important and sensitive to changes in environmental factors. Small changes in temperature and rainfall regime or other climatic events can fundamentally reduce the composition, distribution and dispersion of plant species as well as their production. To better understand future climate change, it is essential to determine the current and future distribution of species. Species distribution modeling is currently the only tool that can be used to assess the number of changes in the distribution of multiple species in response to climate change. Therefore, considering the importance of climate in the distribution of plant species, this research examines the distribution of plant species in the future, taking into account the relationship between the important pasture species in Alborz province and the climate factor. Materials and methods In this research, four plant species including Stipa arabica, Ferula ovina, Bromus tomentellus and Artemisia aucheri were investigated in Alborz province. In order to determine the amount of precipitation and temperature, the data of the synoptic stations, which were analyzed by the Man-Kendall method, were used. Using the maps of the Ecological Zones Recognition Plan of the Forestry and Rangeland Research Institute and ArcGIS, the vegetation cover map of the province and the current distribution of species, the presence and absence of species were drawn and recorded. In order to prepare the environmental information layer, 19 bio-climates for the present were calculated and downloaded from the WorldClim.org site for 2050 with an accuracy of 30 seconds. These data were obtained for two scenarios RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 for the future period. Then, the values of environmental variables were entered as independent variables and species presence and absence information as dependent variables in SPSS software, and the logistic regression statistical model was obtained from the presence of selected species. This statistical model was defined in the ArcGIS software environment and the potential species map was prepared. Kappa statistical coefficient was used to validate the resulting potential habitat maps model using 22 independent variables and with the help of error matrix. Results The results showed the rising temperature trends in all stations, and 65.76% of the trends were significant. In the northern and eastern heights of Alborz province, the increase in average temperature, especially in the early spring, late autumn and winter seasons, will cause early snow melting in the region, and due to the decrease in precipitation in the mountainous regions, it will cause many problems in water storage. According to the predictions of the logistic regression model, Stipa arabica species, 68626 hectares equivalent to 13% of the province, Bromus tomentellus, 298842 hectares equivalent to 58% of the province, Ferula ovina, 195465 hectares equivalent to 38% of the province, and Artemisia aucheri, 232539 hectares equivalent to 45% of the province have the probability of occurrence of class 75-100 The percentage is for the presence of these species. The evaluation of regression model using Kappa coefficient for Stipa arabica, Bromus tomentellus, Ferula ovina and Artemisia aucheri species was equal to 86, 85, 82 and 79 respectively, which are models with good accuracy according to Koch and Smith classification. 19 bio-climatic maps were prepared under two scenarios 4.5 and 8.5 for the year 2050. The current situation is similar to the 4.5 scenario, but in both models, we will see a decrease in the probability of the floor occurring by 75-100 percent in 2050. Also, the average of all temperature parameters in Karaj station will increase by 1.9 degrees Celsius by 2050 and the amount of precipitation will decrease by 1.33 mm. Discussion and conclusion The researchers reported that although there have been no significant changes in rainfall over the past 50 years, the decrease in rainfall in April and the increase in rainfall in December and July can indicate possible climate change in these areas in the future, and the climate in Iran, especially in spring is warming, which confirms the results of the present study. The minimum and maximum height in which the Stipa Arabica species is present is 1400 and 2400 meters, respectively, and the modeling results in 2050 show this minimum and maximum height in the 4.5 scenario, 2400-2100 meters and in the 8.5 scenario, respectively. It shows 2900 meters. The minimum and maximum altitude where the Ferula ovina species is present is 1850 and 2600 meters, respectively. If the modeling results in 2050 show this minimum and maximum height unchanged in the 4.5 scenario and 2800-3000 meters in the 8.5 scenario, respectively. The Bromus tomentellus species is currently located at an altitude of 1600-2700 m, while in scenario 4.5 (equilibrium conditions) and scenario 8.5 (pessimistic scenario) it is at an altitude above 2500 m, which indicates that this species of There is not much difference in altitude opinion. The minimum and maximum altitudes where Artemisia aucheri is present are 1600 and 2800 meters, respectively. Slope and temperature are the two main parameters affecting the distribution of this species and so that the slope affects the depth of the soil and thus has an effect on the establishment of the roots. Due to heat compensation in pessimistic conditions, this species has moved to higher altitudes, i.e. around 3000 meters, which confirms the results of other researchers. With the increase in temperature due to climate change, the extent of habitat of the species under investigation will decrease and they will move to areas that are higher and therefore have lower temperature.
Mahshid Souri; Mina Bayat; Saeedeh Nateghi; Parvaneh Ashouri
Volume 31, Issue 1 , June 2024, , Pages 53-73
Abstract
Background and Objectives:Heavy metals are major soil pollutants due to their toxicity and persistence. Mining activities are a significant source of pollution in natural ecosystems. With its numerous mines, the Khaf region is a case in point. Identifying plants capable of absorbing metals from contaminated ...
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Background and Objectives:Heavy metals are major soil pollutants due to their toxicity and persistence. Mining activities are a significant source of pollution in natural ecosystems. With its numerous mines, the Khaf region is a case in point. Identifying plants capable of absorbing metals from contaminated soils is crucial for phytoremediation efforts. This study investigated the phytoremediation potential of three plant species – Artemisia sieberi, Salsola richteri, and Scariola orientalis – in the iron mine area of Khaf city, Razavi Khorasan province, Iran.Methodology:All plant species were first surveyed at distances 500, 1000, and 3000 meters from the mine to determine the dominant vegetation type. Three species belonging to this dominant type were then selected for heavy metal analysis. Plant samples were collected from different parts (leaves, roots) of these dominant species, along with soil samples from around their roots, at varying distances from the mine and in the direction of the prevailing wind. A total of 36 plant and 36 soil samples were analyzed for copper, iron, and lead using inductively coupled plasma (ICP) to determine metal contamination levels. Plant remediation potential was assessed using various phytoremediation indicators.Results:Significant differences in phytoremediation indicators were observed among the plant species. Salsola richteri exhibited the highest bioconcentration factors (BCF) for lead (1.38), iron (1.37), and copper (1.99), and the highest bioaccumulation coefficients (BAC) for lead (1.55), iron (1.72), and copper (1.95). This indicates Salsola richteri's strong ability to accumulate these metals.The highest lead soil pollution index (2.64) was found around Artemisia sieberi, signifying moderate lead pollution exceeding natural levels in this plant's habitat. The highest iron contamination was observed in the soil around Artemisia sieberi and Scariola orientalis.Conclusion:Metal concentrations in shoots, roots, and soil were highest at 500 meters from the mine and decreased with increasing distance. Soil analysis revealed higher average concentrations of the studied elements compared to global soil values. Notably, high concentrations of copper (490 mg/kg), lead (343 mg/kg), and iron (49000 mg/kg) were observed.At 500 meters from the mine, Salsola richteri displayed BCF values of 1.4, 1.5, 1.45, and 1.02 for lead, iron, copper, and BAC values of 1.7, 1.8, 1.4, and 1.34, respectively. Based on these results, Salsola richteri shows promise as a suitable plant for decontaminating soils in the Khaf mine area.
Mohammadamin Soltanipoor; Saeedeh Nateghi; Abolhamid Hajebi; Mahshid Souri
Volume 29, Issue 2 , July 2022, , Pages 145-155
Abstract
Calculating rangeland capacity and determining the allowable use for important rangeland species is necessary for sustainable range management. By having the rangeland capacity and presenting accurate management plans, the destruction of vegetation and soil and the reduction of water ...
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Calculating rangeland capacity and determining the allowable use for important rangeland species is necessary for sustainable range management. By having the rangeland capacity and presenting accurate management plans, the destruction of vegetation and soil and the reduction of water resources can be prevented. Suitable grazing intensity causes continuous and economic use in the rangeland. Therefore, a study was conducted on the effects of different harvest intensities on forage production of three species Halocnemum strobilaceum, Desmostachya bipinnata, and Aeluropus lagopoides Hormozgan province three years from 2008 to determine the most appropriate level of exploitation. Experimental treatments included four harvesting intensities of 25, 50, and 75% and control (without harvest). In each treatment, ten rootstocks of the species were considered replicates and evaluated on each of the dependent variables. The results were analyzed in SAS software. The results showed that harvest intensity affected the forage production and all treatments were significantly different from the control. Therefore, up to 50% of the allowable use for Aeluropus lagopoides and Desmostachya bipinnata, and up to 75% for Halocnemum strobilaceum is suggested to maintain the health and vigor of these species during the harvest years. According to the above findings, this allowable use can be considered for similar areas in terms of climate together with information about other plants.
Saiedeh Nateghi; Ahmad Nohegar; Amir Houshang Ehsani; Omolbanin Bazrafshan
Volume 24, Issue 4 , January 2018, , Pages 778-790
Abstract
The monitoring of vegetation changes has a fundamental role in planning and management of environment. There are various methods to determine the changes in a region using satellite images that each has advantages and limitations. The use of vegetation indices is one of the methods to detect the changes. ...
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The monitoring of vegetation changes has a fundamental role in planning and management of environment. There are various methods to determine the changes in a region using satellite images that each has advantages and limitations. The use of vegetation indices is one of the methods to detect the changes. The aim of this study was to evaluate four vegetation indices including NDVI, SAVI, RVI and WAVI. This research was performed in Qeshm Island using Landsat images during 2001 and 2014. In this research, ETM+ and OLI data were used. After calculating each indicator, 100 sample training points were used to assess the accuracy of indicators by ENVI.5.3. Four classes including bare land, mangrove forests, agriculture and water were classified. Based on Dlapyan & Smith method, the product accuracy and user accuracy for each class were evaluated. The results showed that the SAVI index with the highest kappa coefficient, 0.93 in 2014 and 0.83 in 2001, had the best results and WAVI index with the lowest kappa coefficient, 0.43 in 2001 and 0.81 in 2014, had the weakest results. To evaluate the changes, crosstab method was used .The results showed that during 13 years the area of mangrove forests and agricultural lands and natural vegetation of Qeshm Island increased up to 21% and 60%, respectively.
Hamid Alipor; Mahsa Pakdin; Saeedeh nateghi; Ali Dastranj; Seyedeh Negar Hashemi
Volume 23, Issue 2 , September 2016, , Pages 329-322
Abstract
Studying the forage quality of range species is among the important factors required for range management. In the present study, the forage quality of range species including Onobrychis transcaspica, Onobrychis radiate, Astragalus brevidens, Melica ciliate, Agropyron pectiniforme, and Sangisorba minor ...
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Studying the forage quality of range species is among the important factors required for range management. In the present study, the forage quality of range species including Onobrychis transcaspica, Onobrychis radiate, Astragalus brevidens, Melica ciliate, Agropyron pectiniforme, and Sangisorba minor were investigated at three phenological stages. The study was conducted in the rangelands of Bojnourd. At each phenological stage, sampling was performed randomly with five replicates. Forage quality indices including CP, ADF, DMD, and ME were measured in the laboratory. The results showed that the forage quality of the study species was higher as compared with flowering and seeding stages, so that with the advancing age of the plant, crude protein, dry matter digestibility, and metabolizable energy reduced and ADF increased. In comparison with grasses, Legumes had the highest CP content (14.53% and the lowest ADF content (43.91%) in all three phenological stages. Among the study species, the maximum and minimum crude protein content was recorded for Astragalus brevidens and Agropyron pectiniforme, respectively. Analysis of variance showed that the effects of species and phenological stages were significant (P<0.01) in all forage quality indices.
Saeedeh Nateghi; ahmad Nohegar; Amir Houshang Ehsani; Omolbanin Bazrafshan
Volume 23, Issue 2 , September 2016, , Pages 416-404
Abstract
Monitoring the land use and land cover change detection is one of the most important issues in the field of planning and management. Change Vector Analysis technique is one of the common methods to detect the changes. This method is based on radiometric changes between two time series satellite data ...
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Monitoring the land use and land cover change detection is one of the most important issues in the field of planning and management. Change Vector Analysis technique is one of the common methods to detect the changes. This method is based on radiometric changes between two time series satellite data and threshold level method. For this purpose, the satellite images of Landsat ETM + (2001) and OLI (2014) were used for the Qeshm Island. The FLAASH method was used to perform atmospheric correction. Then, the vegetation indices (NDVI، WAVI، RVI, SAVI و BI) were calculated and the correlation between indices was evaluated. The results showed that the SAVI index with a correlation coefficient of 95% in 2014 and 92% in 2001 had a high correlation with BI index; therefore, the SAVI index provides better results in studying the vegetation changes in arid and semi-arid regions. The results also showed that during the study period (2001-2014), 150 km² of the lands around and between the mangrove forests were submerged, and at the same time, the area of mangrove forests decreased to 30.63 km², mostly occurring in the margins of Qeshm mangrove forests and the eastern shores of Khamir Port. As well, the area of agricultural lands and vegetation of the island decreased about 8.2 km² in central, eastern, and southeastern island.
Ahmad Ahmadi; AmrAli Shahmoradi; Sedigheh Zarekia; Elahe Ahmadi; Saeedeh Nateghi
Volume 20, Issue 1 , June 2013, , Pages 172-181
Abstract
In this research, Astragalus effusus was considered for autecological study in West Azarbaijan’s catchments. This palatable range species belongs to Papilionaceae. In this study, the ecological characteristics (climatic, topographic, edaphic), distribution in the catchments, phenology, root system, ...
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In this research, Astragalus effusus was considered for autecological study in West Azarbaijan’s catchments. This palatable range species belongs to Papilionaceae. In this study, the ecological characteristics (climatic, topographic, edaphic), distribution in the catchments, phenology, root system, and preference value of Astragalus effuses were investigated. The main part of the study was conducted in study sites of Poldasht (at the elevation of 900 m asl and mean annual rainfall of 120 mm), Shahidan valley (at the elevation of 1700 m asl and mean annual rainfall of 500 mm) and Salmas (at the elevation of 2000 m asl and mean annual rainfall of 338 mm) at different time intervals. The results showed that Astragalus effusus grew in all West Azarbaijan’s catchments from an elevation of approximately 800 to 3575 meters above sea level in all geographic aspects. It grew best on medium-textured soils, from sandy loams to clay loams. Some of the main companion species of Astragalus effusus were Onobrychis cornuta, Bromus tomentellus, Achillea millefolium, and Stachys schetschegleevii. In Salmas study site, the time of initial growth, vegetative growth, flowering, seed ripening and seed dispersion of this species were late March, late April, mid May, mid June and late July, respectively. Astragalus effusus was a tap-rooted species and its roots penetrated to the depths up to 2 meters in sandy loam soils of Salmas region. The geologic studies indicated that the main habitats of the Astragalus effusus were areas with lithologic characteristics of dark gray limestone and red marly limestone with shale in the upper part. This species had no toxic substances and was proper spring forage for livestock.