Ezatollah Moradi; Gholamali Heshmati; Amirahmad Dehghani
Volume 26, Issue 4 , December 2019, , Pages 941-952
Abstract
Nowadays, biological crusts, including lichens, are used as a living biological indexes. The Main objective of this study is evaluation of lichen diversity trends at differences grazing intensity in the mountain rangelands of Semorom in Isfahan province. The lichen diversity is dependent variable and ...
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Nowadays, biological crusts, including lichens, are used as a living biological indexes. The Main objective of this study is evaluation of lichen diversity trends at differences grazing intensity in the mountain rangelands of Semorom in Isfahan province. The lichen diversity is dependent variable and grazing intensity (consists of 5 stoking rate 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5 and 3 animal unit per hectare) considerd as independent variable. Each stoking rate studied along 4 years by implementing 5 management scenarios (grazing and ungrazing alternatively and consecutively). The presence and absence of lichens was performed by random sampling method using transects and sampling units. The lichen diversity analyzed by PAST software and the relationship between variables was calculated by SPSS. The result showed that the lichens diversity is a good indicates of pressure on rangeland ecosystems. In management of rangeland ecosystems, lichen diversity can be used as an ecological indicator for rangeland ecosystems under pressure or non-pressure. Also, the best grazing management scenario for this area is suggested based on the variation of lichen diversity, alternating grazing scenario (every one year between grazing and resting depending on rangeland status and range method).
Moharam Ashrafzadeh; Hamid Niknahad; Mohammadjamal Saharkhiz; Majid ghorbani Nohouji; Gholamali Heshmati
Volume 26, Issue 3 , September 2019, , Pages 629-639
Abstract
Clematis ispahanica Boiss is a rare species of Ranunculaceae family, which has forage and medicinal value. The seeds of this species have a very low germination percentage because of dormancy. Therefore, increasing their germination percentage by laboratory methods can be effective in restoring this ...
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Clematis ispahanica Boiss is a rare species of Ranunculaceae family, which has forage and medicinal value. The seeds of this species have a very low germination percentage because of dormancy. Therefore, increasing their germination percentage by laboratory methods can be effective in restoring this plant. In the present study, considering the seed size of C. ispahanica , H2SO4 (96% ) for 5 , 10, 20 seconds , hot water (70 and 90 °C .) for 15 minutes, ethanol (96%) for 48hours, HCL ( for 2, 4 and 6 minutes), KNO3 (0.2%) for 48 hours, NaCl (50 milli molar) for 48hours, and scarification using sandpaper were tested to break the seed dormancy. Moreover, the seeds of this species were planted in different depths (1, 1.5 and 2.5 cm) and densities (30, 50 and 70 seeds per square meter). Data analysis was performed using SPSS software version 18 and by univariate analysis of variance and the Duncan test. According to the results, the most effective treatments to improve germination percentage and rate were KNO3, NaCl and scarification treatments. The depth of planting had a significant effect (P<0.05) on the germination percentage, but the density of planting had no significant effect on the germination percentage (P> 0.05). Due to the lack of use of chemicals in scarification using sandpaper treatment, it has an advantage over other effective treatments, recommended to break seed dormancy and increase its germination percentage. Considering the weight of a thousand seeds (3.73gr), 1.12 kg/ha seed (equivalent to 30 seeds per square meter) in the depth of 1.5 cm is proposed for the planting of this species in the study area.
Hamid Siroosi; Gholamali Heshmati; Abdolrasool Salman Mahini
Volume 26, Issue 2 , July 2019, , Pages 367-378
Abstract
Rangelands, as one of the world's largest terrestrial ecosystems, are the source of millions of lives. Over the past decades in Iran, these ecosystems have been suffered from degradation and lack of productivity for many reasons and hence there is an urgent need to seek alternative livelihoods for rangeland ...
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Rangelands, as one of the world's largest terrestrial ecosystems, are the source of millions of lives. Over the past decades in Iran, these ecosystems have been suffered from degradation and lack of productivity for many reasons and hence there is an urgent need to seek alternative livelihoods for rangeland locals and stakeholders. An alternative livelihood is community based tourism. Rangeland ecotourism should be in accordance with the potential of the area. In this study, a set of criteria was considered regarding land conservation for suitability analysis. These criteria were standardized, weighed and integrated using fuzzy logic based multi-criteria model. The results showed that attractiveness and conservation criteria, characterized with weights of 0.444 and 0.222, were the most important criteria for suitability analysis. The results of suitability analysis in the rangelands of Jahan Nama Protected Area showed that Festuca-Bromus vegetation type, located around village of Jahan Nama, had the highest suitability. As a whole, of 15361 hectares rangeland area, 1516.5 ha are suitable for rangeland land use. This can be attributed to beautiful landscapes, topographic diversity, and proximity to the Jahan Nama village as the service center, access road and favorable climate. The fuzzy logic based multi-criteria model, used in this study, showed high flexibility in weight of criteria. The criteria suggested here could be promising as a base for suitability analysis in other rangelands of Iran.
Moharam Ashrafzadeh; Hamid Niknahad Gharemakher; Gholamali Heshmati; Mohammadjamal Saharkhiz; Majid Ghorbani Nohooji
Volume 26, Issue 2 , July 2019, , Pages 432-446
Abstract
Clematis ispahanica is a rare, palatable, and endangered species of Iran. In this research, the distribution of this species was investigated in rangelands of Bavanat and Mehriz cities in Fars and Yazd provinces. For vegetation sampling, the study areas were classified and 30 plots (2 × ...
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Clematis ispahanica is a rare, palatable, and endangered species of Iran. In this research, the distribution of this species was investigated in rangelands of Bavanat and Mehriz cities in Fars and Yazd provinces. For vegetation sampling, the study areas were classified and 30 plots (2 × 3 m) were established using random- systematic sampling method in key areas. Soil samples were taken at the depth of 0-30 cm (based on the depth of rooting). Independent t-test was used to compare soil chemical properties of the two regions. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to determine the most effective factors affecting soil properties of the two regions.The effect of phenological stage, area, and interaction between phenological stage and area on forage quality indices (CP, DMD, ME and ADF) was determined using a General Linear Model (GLM). The interaction of area × phenological stage on forage quality was investigated using a completely randomized design. The results demonstrated that the best spatial distribution pattern of this species was the northern slopes and relatively flat topography. Our results revealed that this species was found in non-saline soil (EC<2), sandy loam, loamy sand and sandy textures with a pH of 8.6-8.9, %0.4-%0.7 organic carbon, %0.09-% 0.13 nitrogen, 13.9-22.1 ppm phosphorus, %42-%59 calcium carbonate, and 2-2.45 mg/lit potassium. The results of PCA indicated that soil organic carbon (OC), electrical conductivity (EC), and acidity (pH) were the most effective components of the soil in two study areas. The results demonstrated that in the growth and flowering stages, forage quality indices of this species in Bavanat area were significantly higher than those of Mehriz area, but in the seeding stage, the study indices in Mehriz area was higher as compared with Bavanat area. No significant correlation was found between soil chemical properties and forage quality indices. Thus, it can be concluded that the effect of climate on forage quality indices is higher than edaphic factors. In general, it can be stated that the high forage quality of C. isphanica can be one of the reasons putting this species at risk of extinction.
Seyedeh Habibeh Hoseini; Gholamali Heshmati; Mehdi Mirza; Parviz Karami
Volume 26, Issue 2 , July 2019, , Pages 447-458
Abstract
This research was conducted to evaluate the environmental factors affecting functional characteristics (biomass, density, regeneration, cover%, basal area and species richness) of Ferula haussknechtii in Saral rangelands of Kurdistan. After determining three altitude classes (1850, ...
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This research was conducted to evaluate the environmental factors affecting functional characteristics (biomass, density, regeneration, cover%, basal area and species richness) of Ferula haussknechtii in Saral rangelands of Kurdistan. After determining three altitude classes (1850, 2250 and 2650 m), a systematic-random sampling was performed to measure aboveground biomass, cover percentage, height, basal area, and density of Ferula haussknechtii with 1.5-m2 plots along transects. In each plot, a soil sample was taken from 0-30 cm soil depth. Soil texture, CaCo3, acidity, electrical conductivity, nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, and sodium were measured in the laboratory. Analysis of variance of data was done using a randomized complete design with R software, and also CCA was used to compare the relationship between species and environmental factors. The results showed that aboveground biomass, vegetation percentage, height and density of Ferula haussknechtii increased with increasing altitude, while the basal area of this species decreased. The green biomass, cover percentage, basal area and height of this species were positively correlated with nitrogen, carbon, potassium, silt and clay and negatively correlated with acidity, phosphorus and sand. The results also showed that due to the impact of this valuable species on the soil stabilization, forage supply and production of active ingredients, altitude, nitrogen, carbon, clay and silt were the most effective factors in establishing this species.
Vahid Karimian; Gholamali Heshmati
Volume 24, Issue 4 , January 2018, , Pages 730-741
Abstract
Evaluation of important characteristics of soil and vegetation can inform us of the potentials of rangelands and determine the range condition. Soil surface characteristics directly affect vegetation. On the other hand, factors such as plant species, vegetative form and density affect soil characteristics. ...
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Evaluation of important characteristics of soil and vegetation can inform us of the potentials of rangelands and determine the range condition. Soil surface characteristics directly affect vegetation. On the other hand, factors such as plant species, vegetative form and density affect soil characteristics. Therefore, this study was aimed to evaluate the effects of woody plants on soil characteristics using rangelands soil classification method (SSCC) in Khashab rangelands. Eleven soil surface indices within the plant patches of Ziziphus spina cristi and Ziziphus nummularia and Astragalus fasciculifolius as well as a mixture of trees and shrubs (Ziziphus spina cristi + Ziziphus nummularia) and interpatches (bare soil + litter) were measured along three transects of 70 m in five replicates. Then the factors measured in terms of three indices of stability, infiltration and nutrient cycling for each patch were classified. The results showed significant differences for stability index among the study patches, so that Ziziphus spina cristi + Ziziphus nummularia could improve soil stability. Infiltration index did not show significant difference between Ziziphus nummularia and a mixture patch (Ziziphus spina cristi + Ziziphus nummularia). More soil stability in the mixed patch of trees and shrubs (Ziziphus spina cristi + Ziziphus nummularia) could be promising for biological control in south winter rangelands of the country.
Gholamali Heshmati; Hamid Siroosi; esmaeil sheydaye Karkaj
Volume 24, Issue 4 , January 2018, , Pages 742-756
Abstract
Rangelands as dynamic ecosystems respond to the disturbances such as climatic fluctuations and grazing management patterns. Prediction of spatial trend of these changes could be contributed to management planning and rehabilitation of degraded landscape. In this study, changes ...
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Rangelands as dynamic ecosystems respond to the disturbances such as climatic fluctuations and grazing management patterns. Prediction of spatial trend of these changes could be contributed to management planning and rehabilitation of degraded landscape. In this study, changes in the function of ecosystem, affected by livestock grazing, were investigated along grazing gradient. To this end, in the winter rangelands of Gorgan, functional features of the rangeland ecosystem including: nutrient cycling, infiltration and stability were measured at the set of points along grazing gradient. Measured parameters were analyzed using statistical methods and regression models to determine changes in ecosystem function along grazing gradient. The results showed a significant trend in functional indices along the grazing gradient. Points close to the livestock camp had the minimum value of functional indices while those at the end of the grazing gradient were found to be maximized. Comparison of different regression models using Akaike Information Criterion revealed that, as per infiltration index four-parameter sigmoid model and also for stability and nutrient cycling indices, three-parameter sigmoid model had the lowest AIC value and were the best models to predict functional changes along grazing gradients. The results of this study may be promising as rangeland model input to identify critical areas and can be used to predict management effects on productivity and sustainability of rangeland ecosystems.