Maryam Naeimi; Adel Jalili; Samira Zadifar
Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 11 May 2025
Abstract
Background and objectives
Groundwater resources can be collected through wells, tunnels, and drainage paths; or inherently percolate to the surface through seepage or springs. It is consumed for drinking, agriculture, industry, environment, and ecosystems (Asadi et al., 2023). Management of underground ...
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Background and objectives
Groundwater resources can be collected through wells, tunnels, and drainage paths; or inherently percolate to the surface through seepage or springs. It is consumed for drinking, agriculture, industry, environment, and ecosystems (Asadi et al., 2023). Management of underground water resources is particularly important in arid and semi-arid regions, due to surface water is scarce. Hence, the dependence upon groundwater is quite remarkable. Evidence shows that factors including population growth and climate change play a crucial role in the intensification of groundwater levels (Hall et al., 2008).
Lack of proper knowledge and excessive exploitation of underground water resources, irreparable damages such as a sharp and irreversible drop in the underground water level, reduction of the flow rate of wells and canals, changes in the pattern of underground water flow such as the advance of waterfronts. It has followed the saltiness and interference of salty waters. Therefore, in this research, the quantitative characteristics of underground water in the central desert watershed during the statistical period of 2001-2002 to 2017-2018 have been evaluated.
Research Methodology
The drainage basin of the central desert is a part of the great section of central Iran, which includes important cities such as Garmsar, Semnan, Damghan, Shahrood, Neishabor, Mashhad, Sabzevar, and Kashmer, creates an area of 226,523 Km2 between the south of Alborz and the northeast of Zagros. Considering the necessity of studies on the factors affecting the decline of the water level of groundwater resources, including hydrogeological droughts and human interventions, along with behavioral assessment; it is essential to provide appropriate protection and management solutions for groundwater resources.
Hence, in the present study, various time lapse-year aligned maps, representative hydrographs of the study area, the average annual changes in precipitation and groundwater drought index (GRI), and the level of exploitation of groundwater resources for the target plain were calculated. To evaluate the quantitative status of underground water, the water level and the observation wells data in the aquifers of the study areas of the Central Desert watershed were used in the mentioned statistical period. In the following zoning maps, variations of underground water level fluctuations, aquifer storage volume, and drought conditions were analyzed. It is necessary to note that all the maps were drawn using Arc GIS and kriging tools.
Results
The results at the level of the central desert watershed, based on the updated statistics up to the water year 2019-2020, indicate the number of 29,360 underground water sources (wells, springs, and aqueducts) with the volume of discharge and withdrawal of 3659 million cubic meters per year. The number of springs, aqueducts, and deep and semi-deep wells is about 19, 21, 39, and 21% respectively in terms of number and terms of discharge about 9, 16, 72, and 3% of the total number and discharge of underground water sources.
An annual survey of the number of groundwater resources in the study areas shows that the trend of deep wells increased until 2011 and then decreased. Increasing the number of wells can increase the exploitation of groundwater levels, and unprincipled management in the exploitation of groundwater resources for agricultural development causes a drop in water levels and a decrease in the qualitative value of groundwater resources, and subsequently turns dry areas into critical centers of wind erosion (Nasirian et al., 2018).
In general, in most of the study areas, the rate of discharge from wells is much higher than that of springs and qanat. Therefore, the dominant system of groundwater exploitation is deep wells. Groundwater extraction by deep wells has increased significantly in different years, while its consequences could be seen as a direct impact on the existence of qanats, springs, and their average water supply. On the other hand, a decreasing trend in deep wells could be due to excessive extraction in previous years and well-greening events in the study area. Previously, excessive extraction of groundwater resources in the plains of the central desert such as Neyshabur (Rokni et al., 2016) and its consequences such as a water level depletion (4.8 meters in the ten years 1996- 2006), land subsidence, and a decline in water quality have been mentioned.
Also, the most water level changes have occurred in the Rashtkhar, Ivanki, and Kashmar areas, which have a deficit of -29.30, -25.50, and -18.40 meters, respectively. The annual and cumulative changes in the storage volume of the reservoir in the Central Desert watershed area during the statistical period of 1998 to 2018 show that the volume of the reservoir has decreased by 25317 MCM. The continuation of the changes in the GRI shows that the first drought occurred in 2019, while the general trend of the GRI value was decreasing.
Conclusions
Generally, in most of the study areas of the central desert integration area, the amount of discharge from wells is far more than from springs and qanats. Therefore, the dominant system of using underground water is in the form of deep and semi-deep wells. Additionally, the results indicate the unsustainable use of water to maintain and expand human activities in the largest area of Iran, located in the arid/semi-arid sector. If not controlled, such excessive use of underground water can cause environmental problems and serious socio-economic consequences. Finally, due to the unpredictability of climatic droughts and the impossibility of preventing them, it is necessary to reduce their negative effects by planning and applying proper management of underground water resources.
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 ...
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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.
Mehdi Zohdi; Hosein Arzani; Seyed Akbar Javadi; Adel Jalili; Gholamhosein Khorshidi
Volume 25, Issue 4 , February 2019, , Pages 898-910
Abstract
Rules and regulations in the last few decades have had a great impact on rangelands and its exploitation; on the other hand, these rules are the foundation of the policies governing the type of management and relevant government agencies. The aim of this research was to examine ...
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Rules and regulations in the last few decades have had a great impact on rangelands and its exploitation; on the other hand, these rules are the foundation of the policies governing the type of management and relevant government agencies. The aim of this research was to examine the effectiveness of the laws and regulations related to the rangeland and range management, with the help of a survey of experts and rangeland specialist. In this regard, the community of rangeland specialists or natural resources experts, who were empirically and professionally related to rangeland and range management issues, was identified and their opinion was collected through questionnaires. The audience was divided into three main groups of executive and research experts and academics. A total of 268 questionnaires were completed and the responses were analyzed using descriptive statistical methods. The results showed that, in general, the existing rules and regulations could not prevent the degradation of rangelands and result in rangeland conservation and improvement, and these rules have greatly contributed to the collapse of the range management systems in the past, while an appropriate management system has not been replaced. Moreover, a large part of respondents believed that the laws and regulations need to be reviewed and updated.
Parvaneh Ashouri; Mohammadali Zare Chahooki; Afshin Danehkar; Adel Jalili; Behnam Hamze
Volume 25, Issue 1 , April 2018, , Pages 1-12
Abstract
Multivariate data analysis in ecology and biodiversity research is very important. Ecologists often need to test hypotheses about the effects of experimental factors on the entire community composition. To analyze multivariate data, the use of classical statistical methods is based on assumptions such ...
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Multivariate data analysis in ecology and biodiversity research is very important. Ecologists often need to test hypotheses about the effects of experimental factors on the entire community composition. To analyze multivariate data, the use of classical statistical methods is based on assumptions such as the normal distribution of data that are not usually observed in ecological data. To analyze multivariate data, the use of classical statistical methods is based on assumptions such as the normal distribution of data that are not usually observed in ecological data. Therefore, in recent years, nonparametric tests, based on permutation tests and distance or dissimilarity matrix, have been widely used to test the existence of differences in species composition in ecology sciences. The purpose of this paper is to introduce and familiarization with new ecological non-parametric multivariate tests related to ecology sciences such as SIMPER, ANOSIM, PERMANOVA and PERMDISP, with the aim of analyzing the composition of plant communities. In order to introduce these analyzes, vegetation data of six sites of rangelands located in the surrounding area of Tehran province were used and the composition of the plant communities of the mentioned areas was analyzed. SIMPER analysis showed that Stipa hohenackeriana and Bromus tomentellus, respectively, had the largest role in differentiating among the sites studied in arid and semi-arid regions. ANOSIM and PERMANOVA analyzes showed a significant difference of plant composition among the sites. According to the results of these tests, Firouzkooh-Alborz, Damavand-Semnan and Saveh-Salafchegan sites had more similarity in terms of composition of vegetation. PERMDISP analysis showed that heterogeneity and multivariate dispersion of species coverage were significantly higher in Salafchegan and Saveh sampling sites. Therefore, according to the results, it can be stated that in order to preserve biodiversity in the study sites, at least three separate management plans are needed. Also, according to SIMPER analysis results, management plans to preserve the biodiversity of the areas studied can be supported by the distinct species identified in each site.
Mina Bayat; Hosein Arzani; Adel Jalili
Volume 23, Issue 2 , September 2016, , Pages 372-357
Abstract
In this study, the effects of three important climate factors including rainfall, temperature, and relative humidity were studied on vegetation cover and forage production for ten years (1997-2007) as well as in the Alavijeh and Khondab steppe rangelands, Isfahan province, in 2013. The results of the ...
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In this study, the effects of three important climate factors including rainfall, temperature, and relative humidity were studied on vegetation cover and forage production for ten years (1997-2007) as well as in the Alavijeh and Khondab steppe rangelands, Isfahan province, in 2013. The results of the eleven-year study in steppe rangelands showed that shrubs and grasses had the highest and lowest vegetation cover and production and the average vegetation cover and average production were calculated to be 12% and 124.5 kg per hectare. The results of simple regression analysis showed that in steppe rangelands, the total vegetation cover is affected by annual rainfall and temperature, so that vegetation cover increased with increasing annual rainfall and decreasing temperature. The total production in the study rangelands is affected by annual rainfall, cold season rainfall, and minimum temperature. The long-term production was calculated to be 55 and 176.6 kg per hectare for the Khondab and Alavijeh sites, respectively. According to the results of stepwise regression, using climatic factors, the relative humidity with temperature of December and annual rainfall was identified as the best equation to estimate the annual vegetation cover in the Khondab and Alavijeh sites. In the Khondab site, the temperature of November and total rainfall from March to May was identified as the best equation to estimate the annual production. However, in the Alavijeh site, the total rainfall of growing season, minimum temperature of March, and temperature of May and December was the best. Therefore, the impact of climate conditions on vegetation cover and annual production and different life forms are not similar in the steppe rangelands.
Kian Nadjafi-Tireh-Shabankareh; Adel Jalili; Nemat Alah Khorasani; Ziba Jamzad; Younes Asri
Volume 19, Issue 4 , March 2013, , Pages 601-613
Abstract
Genu protected area is located in the north–west of Bandar Abbas and its summit is 2347 meters above sea level. In this study, soil seed bank was investigated in vegetation communities. Soil seed bank plays a role in the revival of vegetation after degradation. In protected areas, understanding ...
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Genu protected area is located in the north–west of Bandar Abbas and its summit is 2347 meters above sea level. In this study, soil seed bank was investigated in vegetation communities. Soil seed bank plays a role in the revival of vegetation after degradation. In protected areas, understanding of the type of soil seed bank in terms of the production capacity of persistent and non-persistent seed bank is valuable to preserve the species especially endemic and rare species. In this study, sampling of the soil seed bank was conducted before precipitation. Sampling points were selected from 50 points in both depths of 0-5 and 5-10 cm of the soil surface to determine soil seed reserves. A total of 135 samples were selected for the study of plant sociology. Trays containing the samples were placed in a greenhouse and were irrigated regularly. In this research, the potential of soil seed reserves was investigated in terms of seed persistence in soil, and according to the results, significant differences were found in terms of seed density per meter square at different depths of soil and the life form of species in different communities. Among life forms, therophytes were more abundant in the soil seed bank while tree and shrub species were scarce. Species with persistent soil seed bank was mainly annuals. From 810 samples of soil seed bank, cultivated in the greenhouse, 3934 seeds were germinated of which 2933 and 1001 seeds were related to the depths of 0-5 and 5-10 cm of soil surface, respectively. In total, the number of seeds was related to 163 species of which 44 species had persistent seed bank. Species in the sampling units of soil seed bank with at least two seeds in the depth of 5-10 cm of the soil surface were considered as species with persistent seed bank. Other species in the region which had non-persistent seed bank were more vulnerable to degradation. In other words, if the vegetation is destroyed, they will not be able to revive.
Adel Jalili; Kian Najafi Tireh Shabankareh
Volume 19, Issue 3 , December 2012, , Pages 406-420
Abstract
Due to uncontrollable natural regeneration of invasive and non-native species of Prosopis juliflora in the coastal areas in south of the country, effects of the species on soil properties under canopy cover were investigated. This study was conducted in Hormozgan province, in different sites including ...
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Due to uncontrollable natural regeneration of invasive and non-native species of Prosopis juliflora in the coastal areas in south of the country, effects of the species on soil properties under canopy cover were investigated. This study was conducted in Hormozgan province, in different sites including Bandar Abbas, Ghaleghazi, Minab and Sirik. In each region, the species were randomly selected in one hectare of land and then the soil under and outside the canopy cover were sampled from two depths, 0-15 and 15-30 cm. pH, EC, saturation percentage, soluble calcium and magnesium, chlorine, HCO3-, SO42-, potassium, organic carbon, total nitrogen and available phosphorus phosphorus were measured in laboratory. Results of this research showed that there were significant differences in some soil properties such as pH, EC, and organic carbon in depth of 0-15 centimeter. It is worth noting that changes in soil properties under canopy cover were not similar in all regions. This may be due to the establishment period of the species in different regions, habitat conditions, the occurrence of rainy and drought periods and the density and diversity of native species. Some soil properties did not differ statistically beneath and outside the canopy of this species but it seems that the trend of these changes has not been stable. It is emphasized that the role of Prosopis juliflora in connection with the change in density and diversity of natural vegetation beneath the canopy cover could not conclusively be attributed only to changes in soil.
Morteza Akbarzadeh; Mohammed Reza Moghadam; Adel Jalili; Mohammad Jafari; Hossein Arzani
Volume 13, Issue 4 , February 2007, , Pages 324-336
Abstract
The pressure of livestock grazing and overall utilization of rangelands have caused vegetation and soil degradation in many natural rangelands of Iran. Grazing prevention is one of the rangelands rehabilitation methods, which is effective in renovation of rangelands. The effect of 24 years of grazing ...
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The pressure of livestock grazing and overall utilization of rangelands have caused vegetation and soil degradation in many natural rangelands of Iran. Grazing prevention is one of the rangelands rehabilitation methods, which is effective in renovation of rangelands. The effect of 24 years of grazing protection were studied on vegetation dynamics of Kuhrang region, in two years growing seasons (2003 and 2004). Parameters from rangelands characteristics were collected and analyzed. Results showed that after 24 years livestock exclusion in Kuhrang, total inside canopy cover was higher than outside (P<0.01). Grasses and forbs were higher inside than outside (P<0.01), but shrubs were not significantly different (P>0.05). Over half of inside canopy cover belonged to decreasers and increasers, which were little or negligible outside of exclosure and 95 percent of outside plant composition belonged to invaders. Most desirable species had greater inside cover than outside(P<0.01). Klucia odoratassima, Scorzonera calyculataand Delphinium cyphoplectrumhad greatest inside canopy cover, than other forbs. More than half of inside and 95 percent of outside cover referred to decreasers and increasers. Approximately 38 and 1.2 % of inside and outside forage production belonged to decreasers and increasers respectively. Regeneration was higher outside of exclosure in Astragalus adscendens, in first year. Litter was higher inside and bare soil outside the exclosure (P<0.01). Inside and outside range condition was good and very poor, respectively.
Taghi Mirhaji; Adel Jalili; Morteza Akbarzadeh
Volume 9, Issue 2 , September 2001, , Pages 729-742