Javad Motamedi; Esmaeil Sheidai-Karkaj; Yaser Ghasemi Aryan
Volume 30, Issue 1 , April 2023, , Pages 1-23
Abstract
The presentation of management models in the natural area is of great importance due to the large extent and inaccessibility of the whole surface. In this regard, Imam Kandi mountain rangelands were targeted for presenting a spatial-ecological model. Homogeneous ecological units were prepared by incorporating ...
Read More
The presentation of management models in the natural area is of great importance due to the large extent and inaccessibility of the whole surface. In this regard, Imam Kandi mountain rangelands were targeted for presenting a spatial-ecological model. Homogeneous ecological units were prepared by incorporating layers of elevation, slope, geographical orientation and plant types. Considering the ecological and environmental characteristics of each homogeneous ecological unit and considering the criteria and index for evaluating rangeland utilization, we evaluated the power and suitability of using rangelands. According to the range condition and trend of the rangeland, the rangeland method and grazing systems were presented for each of the classes. Based on the results of 23 homogeneous ecological units, it was identified that many of them belong to rangeland lands with grades 1 to 3. Accordingly, equilibrium range management was considered in 26.9% (244.4 ha) of rangelands with good condition and class 1 power. In 37.4% (346.4 hectares) with moderate condition and class 2 power, natural range management was recommended. Artificial range management or range improvement were recommended for 35.7% (329.9 ha) of poor and class 3 land. In order to prevent erosion and increase forage production, artificial range management was recommended for abandoned fields. The results indicate that application of spatial-ecological model and consequently identification of ecological homogeneous zones as management and planning units at macro level as a cost-effective method, in addition to assessing rangelands power, can enable rangeland management in proposing the rangeland method and grazing systems and assist in localization of range improvement operations.
Javad Motamedi; Esmaeil Sheidai Karkaj; Azizeh Babazadeh; Morteza Mofidi Chelan
Volume 29, Issue 2 , July 2022, , Pages 166-175
Abstract
One of the objectives in rangeland management is the accurate and rapid determination of forage production to determine grazing capacity. The relationship between forage production and morphological characteristics was investigated in this study. For this purpose, two grazed and non-grazed units were ...
Read More
One of the objectives in rangeland management is the accurate and rapid determination of forage production to determine grazing capacity. The relationship between forage production and morphological characteristics was investigated in this study. For this purpose, two grazed and non-grazed units were selected in the mountainous rangelands of Nazlouchay, Urmia. In each of them, the morphological characteristics of A. aucheri, as the only dominant plant species that accounts for more than 50% of the plant composition, were measured within 60 one-square-meter plots located along with 100-meter transects in July 2017. After cutting off bases growth, the dry weight of the samples was determined, and its regression relationship with morphological characteristics was examined using hierarchical regression. The results showed that it was possible to estimate A.aucheri production in the unit where the plant bases were not grazed using multiple linear regression models based on diameter, average crown size (D1), collar diameter (D2), and height (H). In the grazed units, where plant bases were grazed in the fall of last year, only the average diameter of the crown (D1) and height (H) was validated with multiple linear regression models, as the best model with RMSE equal to 3.53 and coefficient of 0.52. Due to the relatively good performance of the model and the preference for combining several morphological features in production estimation, separating models into inside and outside the exclosure can play a role in rangeland monitoring and production estimation to calculate grazing capacity and assess the intensity of rangeland utilization.
Asad Sadeghpour; Javad Motamedi; Esmaeil Sheidai Karkaj; Mostafa ghanamijaber
Volume 25, Issue 4 , February 2019, , Pages 944-955
Abstract
Knowing medicinal plants, measuring structural features and their species diversity indices are of the essential requirements to determine the suitability of rangelands for the use of medicinal plants. In this regard, the research was carried out in the mountain rangelands of Anbaran. For this purpose, ...
Read More
Knowing medicinal plants, measuring structural features and their species diversity indices are of the essential requirements to determine the suitability of rangelands for the use of medicinal plants. In this regard, the research was carried out in the mountain rangelands of Anbaran. For this purpose, vegetation cover was measured using 320 plots of one square meter, with a distance of 10 meters from each other along 100-meter transects in 16 vegetation types, and the values of species diversity indices in different elevation classes and aspects were calculated. Based on the results, 16 medicinal species are distributed in the plant composition, with a relative importance varying from 0.9 to 59. The highest relative importance is related to Verbascum erianthum, Cynodon dactylon and Acroptilon repens, and the least belongs to Papaver acrochaetum, Hyoscyamus arachnoideus, Iris falcifolia, Allium scabriscapum and Matricaria chamomilla.The results showed that the values of the Shannon–Winear in the altitudes of 1750-1500 meters and 1750-200 meters were 0.569 and 0.651, respectively, showing no significant difference with each other. The value of the index in the northern and southern directions is equal to 0.691 and 0.511, and the northern aspects are more favorable than the southern ones. Therefore, with regard to the range of Shannon–Winear index (0-4.5), it seems that the rangelands are not desirable for the species diversity of medicinal plants, which is necessary to increase species diversity with direct management. The findings of this study can be used to locate medicinal plants in order to protect, exploit, seed production and provide part of the livestock holder’s income.
Hosein Arzani; Javad Motamedi; Taghi Mirhaji
Volume 25, Issue 3 , November 2018, , Pages 657-670
Abstract
Knowledge of the animal daily requirement in rangelands is one of the essential requirements to calculate the grazing capacity in rangeland plans. In this regard, the daily metabolizable energy requirements of different Sangesary sheep (ewe, ram, and lamb) were investigated. For ...
Read More
Knowledge of the animal daily requirement in rangelands is one of the essential requirements to calculate the grazing capacity in rangeland plans. In this regard, the daily metabolizable energy requirements of different Sangesary sheep (ewe, ram, and lamb) were investigated. For this purpose, according to the average values of forage quality indices and the proportion of species in the plant composition, the amount of metabolizable energy in one kilogram of dry forage at different growth stages was estimated, and considering the daily metabolizable energy requirement, the amount of forage that supplies the animal was estimated. The daily metabolizable energy requirement was calculated according to the proposed MAFF (1984) equation under grazing condition regarding the physical properties of the rangelands, water distribution intervals, plant density, and applying an incremental coefficient of 70%. Based on the results, the amount of forage needed to meet the daily needs of the ewe of the Sangesary sheep with a mean weight of 37 kg in the early, mid, and late growing season was estimated to be 1.6, 2.1 and 2.3 kg dry matter, respectively. The values for adult rams with an average weight of 48.75 kg were estimated to be 1.9, 2.5 and 2.9 kg in different growth stages. The lambs' daily requirement with an average weight of 19.88 kg was estimated to be 1.3, 1.7, and 1.9 in each growing season. The results showed that considering the amount of 1.5 kg of dry matter forage to meet the daily requirements of different kinds of animals grazing in rangelands is not correct and animal requirement need be determined based on forage quality in phenologiacal stages.In addition, the results emphasize that in order to adapt the daily requirements of animal to the forage quality, it is necessary to consider the values of forage quality indices and the proportion of all species grazed in the plant composition, so that the results should not be limited to the species in animal diet. Otherwise, as in the present study, the estimated requirement is more than the daily intake of animal grazing on rangelands.