morteza Khodagholi; Razieh Saboohi; Alireza Eftekhari; Mina Bayat
Volume 31, Issue 4 , January 2025, , Pages 363-381
Abstract
Background and purpose:Increasing awareness of the environment and efforts for sustainable management of natural resources require study and monitoring in different time scales and places. Continuous changes should be considered as an inseparable part of any ecosystem. As natural ecosystems, rangelands ...
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Background and purpose:Increasing awareness of the environment and efforts for sustainable management of natural resources require study and monitoring in different time scales and places. Continuous changes should be considered as an inseparable part of any ecosystem. As natural ecosystems, rangelands are not exempt from this issue. So that rangeland monitoring is necessary in the sense of continuous investigation of these lands with regard to the ecological importance, economic functions and constant changes of these resources. Access to such data is extremely important both for national planning and for the use of rangelands, and it provides the basis for the use of advanced facilities such as remote sensing. Based on this, in order to monitor the trend and intensity of changes in vegetation cover and soil indicators of rangelands for 4 years at the Goorab site located in Isfahan province, it was evaluated and monitored.Materials and methods:The site of Goorab Fereydoonshahr Isfahan is located 230 kilometers west of Isfahan city and 35 kilometers west of Fereydoonshahr city. Plant factors including canopy cover of plant species and production rate of plant species and percentage of dead leaves were evaluated. Evaluation was done in the first year by random-systematic method and in the following years systematically with sufficient number of samples and appropriate distribution of samples in the plant type determined at the time of rangeland preparation. Soil sampling was done in theResults:The results showed that the 4-year average vegetation canopy cover percentage of Goorab site is about 42.2%, and the highest and lowest coverage is 59.4% in 1398 and 31.6% in 1400, respectively. The production rate is 1374.2 kg of dry matter per hectare. The production, like the canopy cover percentage, shows a lot of changes during the 4-year evaluation at the Goorab site, so that in 2019, the production reached 1957 kg per hectare, and in 2021, it decreased by 50% compared to 2019 to 955.7 kg per hectare. The results of the correlation and regression test also showed that the amount of precipitation in the growing season had the highest correlation with the amount of crown cover and production of plants in the region.Conclusion:Considering the importance of rangelands, both in terms of production and in terms of environmental values and services they provide to the society, studying the changes of rangelands in terms of the aforementioned factors and knowing the factors of those changes will be an effective help in developing a basic management plan and sustainable use of rangelands.
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.
Salahaddin Zahedi; Farhang Ghasriani; Mina Bayat
Volume 27, Issue 4 , December 2020, , Pages 712-721
Abstract
Nine accessions of Elymus libanoticus was planted at Baharestan Agricultural Research Station and evaluated in order to nominate of the best accessions in terms of adaptability and establishment. The experiment started in 2010 and continued to 2015. For each accession adequate seed of different stocks ...
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Nine accessions of Elymus libanoticus was planted at Baharestan Agricultural Research Station and evaluated in order to nominate of the best accessions in terms of adaptability and establishment. The experiment started in 2010 and continued to 2015. For each accession adequate seed of different stocks in whole of the province was reaped. In reproduction phase (2010 autumn) and after soil preparation, all accessions were planted on plots with 5*6 m2, with 50cm spacing of planting line and planting points and 3cm of planting depth. At this stage weeding, and three irrigation times were performed. In the summer of 2011 mature seeds of grown accessions harvested and re-cultivation of seeds that were not green in the first stage was carried out. In 2011 and 2012autumn, the accession of each species based on complete randomized block design with 3 replications and 2 meter intervals on 2*4 m2 plots and 4 lines with 4-meter length and 50 cm intervals (In order to elimination of marginal effects) and 3 cm of planting depth planted as rainfed. The measured traits for plant selection were 1) growing 2) flowering 3) seeding 4) Yield 5) canopy cover 6) height and 7) regrowing, all data were statistically compound analyzed by SPSS 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 (2012-2015). In terms of measured parameters for all accessions of Elymus libanoticus, Iranshah and Chakhelo accession, respectively showed superiority and minority in the Baharestan research station conditions. In addition to the difference in genotypic power and the amount of precipitation that mentioned in previous studies as the only limiting factors of growth and propagation, Variable factors such as altitude from sea level, depth of soil and geographic direction of collecting areas of different accessions are factors influencing the establishment and adaptation of rangeland species in the site of cultivation and have the most effect on the performance of different accessions. So, it seems that zoning of areas is necessary for seed reproduction in order to improve the rangelands, and the use of extras in each area is necessary for replanting and planting in the same area.
Ali mohebbi; Farhang Ghasriani; Mina Bayat; Gholamhosein Rahmani; qasem khodahami; ghasemali abarsaji; Mohamad ali Dehghani Tafti; Farideh Saghafi Khadem
Volume 24, Issue 3 , October 2017, , Pages 471-477
farhang ghasriani; mina bayat; mirtaher ghaemi; hasan yeganeh
Volume 24, Issue 1 , May 2017, , Pages 142-151
Abstract
This research was aimed to investigate the effects of different harvesting intensities on forage yield and vitality of Aeluropus littoralis, as a key and important range species in the Tez Kharab rangelands, Urmia, Iran. The study was conducted in the rangelands around Urmia Lake and a 0.5-ha exclosure ...
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This research was aimed to investigate the effects of different harvesting intensities on forage yield and vitality of Aeluropus littoralis, as a key and important range species in the Tez Kharab rangelands, Urmia, Iran. The study was conducted in the rangelands around Urmia Lake and a 0.5-ha exclosure was selected and fenced in the first year of the study. The treatments consisted of four harvesting intensities including 0%, 25%, 50%, and 75%. Harvesting treatments were applied for four years during the growing season and at the start of livestock grazing. The harvested forage was air-dried and weighed to calculate the forage yield. In addition, the remaining yield of control and harvesting treatments were cut, dried, and weighed. Data were analyzed using a split-plot design in time. Finally, the effects of changes in phenological characteristics, forage yield, plant vitality and mortality were investigated. The effects of year and harvesting intensities as well as interaction effects of year and harvesting intensity were significant on forage yield (P<0.05). This indicates that forage yield differs in different years depending on climate conditions. Our results clearly showed that increased utilization led to reduced plant vitality. According to the obtained results, a harvesting intensity of 50% could be recommended as an optimal allowable use of forage with the least negative impacts on plant vitality.
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.
Salahaddin Zahedi; Mina Bayat; Farhang Ghasriani
Volume 23, Issue 1 , June 2016, , Pages 80-91
Abstract
In the past decade, extensive changes have occurred in the land use and land cover of Qeshlaq dam watershed. The rangelands of the study area have undergone extensive changes, converted to other land uses, or lost their quality. The continuation of this process not only reduces the forage production ...
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In the past decade, extensive changes have occurred in the land use and land cover of Qeshlaq dam watershed. The rangelands of the study area have undergone extensive changes, converted to other land uses, or lost their quality. The continuation of this process not only reduces the forage production and consequently livestock production but also increases unemployment and migration to the city, leading to increasing soil erosion and sediment yield as well as reduced size of the dam reservoir and reduced economic life. This research was aimed to detect and provide the map for the land-cover changes in the study area during 1987 and 2010 using TM Landsat 5 satellite images. In this regard, the available data of the study area and the data collected from field were used as ancillary data. Maximum land-use changes, with a reduction of 4857 ha in area, were related to the class II rangelands, followed by class III rangelands with an increase of 2983 ha, and agricultural irrigated lands with an increase of 1641 ha, respectively. Our results clearly confirm the heavy grazing in the study area and conversion of rangelands to agricultural lands.
Morteza Khodagholi; Farhang Ghasriani; Mina Bayat; Mojgan sadat Azimi
Volume 19, Issue 3 , December 2012, , Pages 512-521
Abstract
Appropriate utilization of plant species in rangelands is one of the principles of sustainable production in rangeland ecosystems that leads to continuous and economic utilization of rangelands. In order to achieve stability and continuity of production in steppe rangeland, this study was performed to ...
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Appropriate utilization of plant species in rangelands is one of the principles of sustainable production in rangeland ecosystems that leads to continuous and economic utilization of rangelands. In order to achieve stability and continuity of production in steppe rangeland, this study was performed to investigate the effect of different harvesting intensities on forage production and vitality of Stipa arabica at Isfahan Soh site, during 2007 to 2010. Treatments in each block were included four grazing intensities of 25, 50 and 75% and control (no harvest). In each treatment, 10 individuals of species were used as replications evaluated on each of the dependent variables. A factorial experiment in a completely randomized design with ten replications and four years was used to analyze the data. Data analysis was performed by SAS software. Results showed that forage production of Stipa arabica did not differ statistically in response to different harvesting intensities, and up to 75 percent of this species could be harvested, but heavy harvesting intensity decreased the vigor and vitality of the species during the examined years. Harvesting intensities were significant at 1% level of probability and production rate decreased gradually over the 4 years. According to the results, a harvesting intensity of 50% is recommended for Stipa arabica in this region so that health and vitality of this species is preserved during the harvesting years.