Sanaz Yousefvand; Ardavan Ghorbani; Mina Hosseinnejad Jadidi; Mehdi Moameri; Akbar Qavidel; Farid Deljo; Narjes Rostami
Volume 32, Issue 4 , December 2025, , Pages 352-373
Abstract
Background and objectivesThe pressure of livestock grazing on rangelands and the increasing degradation of these ecosystems can have destructive effects on soil characteristics. Methods for improving degraded soils include increasing rangeland fertility, enhancing soil stability, and reducing trampling ...
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Background and objectivesThe pressure of livestock grazing on rangelands and the increasing degradation of these ecosystems can have destructive effects on soil characteristics. Methods for improving degraded soils include increasing rangeland fertility, enhancing soil stability, and reducing trampling by restricting livestock grazing. Exclosure is widely used as a natural regeneration strategy to improve vegetation conditions, soil fertility, and conservation outcomes in rangeland restoration and improvement programs. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of exclosure on soil parameters, including electrical conductivity, absorbable potassium, absorbable phosphorus, organic carbon, total nitrogen, and soil reaction. Biological parameters, including basal microbial respiration, stimulated microbial respiration, microbial carbon, metabolic quotient, and soil microbial and enzymatic activities (alkaline phosphatase, dehydrogenase, and urease) were measured both inside and outside the Shoghaldareh exclosure in Nemin County.MethodologyTo conduct this study, the Shoghaldareh exclosure located in Nemin County (Ardabil Province) was selected. A total of 18 soil samples were collected from six sites (3 inside and 3outside the exclosure) at a depth of 5–20 cm. Samples were randomly taken along three 100-m transects (from the beginning, middle, and end of each transect, which were subsequently mixed to form one composite sample). Each transect was established 50 m apart. Collected samples were transferred to the laboratory in refrigerated containers and stored at –80°C until analyses were performed. The investigated parameters included soil texture (sand, clay, and silt), electrical conductivity, absorbable potassium, absorbable phosphorus, organic carbon, total nitrogen, soil reaction, basal microbial respiration, stimulated microbial respiration, microbial carbon, metabolic quotient, soil microbial quotient, and the activities of alkaline phosphatase, dehydrogenase, and urease. Data analysis was carried out separately for the two areas (inside and outside the exclosure) using an independent two-sample t-test. Data normality was assessed using the Shapiro–Wilk test, and correlations among soil characteristics were evaluated using Pearson’s coefficient in SPSS Ver. 22.ResultsThe results indicated that the studied area had a sandy loam texture. A significant difference at the 5% probability level was observed between the inside and outside of the exclosure, such that the clay and silt contents inside the exclosure were 9.88% and 32.77%, respectively, while sand content was 63.88% higher outside the exclosure. Electrical conductivity, organic carbon, potassium (saturated extract), acidity, absorbable phosphorus, and total nitrogen showed the highest values outside the exclosure. All biological parameters, except metabolic quotient, exhibited significant differences between the interior and exterior of the exclosure. The highest levels of basal microbial respiration, stimulated microbial respiration, and microbial quotient—corresponding to 0.32 and 1.96 mg CO₂ g⁻¹ day⁻¹ and 1.2 mg Cmic g⁻¹ C org—were recorded inside the exclosure; whereas microbial biomass carbon (513.80 mg Cmic g⁻¹) belonged to the area outside the exclosure. Inside the exclosure, silt and sand percentages showed a positive correlation, whereas clay percentage had a negative correlation with the metabolic quotient. Available phosphorus exhibited a positive correlation with nitrogen, organic carbon, and the microbial quotient. Nitrogen was positively correlated with organic carbon, the metabolic quotient, and the microbial quotient. Basal and induced respiration were positively correlated, and organic carbon showed a positive correlation with both the metabolic and microbial quotients. In contrast, pH had a negative correlation with the microbial quotient and microbial biomass carbon. Outside the exclosure, clay percentage showed a positive correlation with available phosphorus, whereas silt and sand showed negative correlations. Nitrogen exhibited a positive correlation with organic carbon. Basal respiration had a positive correlation with induced respiration and microbial biomass carbon, and induced respiration was positively correlated with microbial biomass carbon. The metabolic quotient had a positive correlation with the microbial quotient, while microbial biomass carbon showed a negative correlation with the metabolic quotient. Regarding enzymatic activities, the highest values of dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, and urease—2.85 µg TPF g⁻¹ dm 16 h⁻¹, 585.71 µg pNP g⁻¹ dm h⁻¹, and 238.79 µg N g⁻¹ dm, respectively—were recorded inside the exclosure.ConclusionExcessive grazing in Iran’s rangelands reduces the input of plant residues into the soil and alters chemical, biological, and soil enzymatic properties. This reduction in organic matter and disruption of microbial activity decreases soil fertility. The findings of this research demonstrate that implementing grazing exclosure improves soil biological activities, including increased enzymatic activity and microbial respiration, within the excluded area. Furthermore, positive changes in soil texture, particularly increases in clay and silt contents, were observed. Although a slight decrease in certain soil nutrients and microbial populations occurred within the exclosure, these changes were likely influenced by wildlife grazing patterns and ultimately contributed to establishing a sustainable, balanced ecosystem with optimized long-term functioning. Therefore, the results underscore the important role of grazing exclosure management in enhancing the health and sustainability of natural ecosystems.
zhila ghorbani; Kiumars Sefidi; Mahshid Souri; Mehdi Moameri
Volume 28, Issue 3 , October 2021, , Pages 395-409
Abstract
Awareness of the extent and impact of vegetation from livestock grazing disorders can be a solution to develop rangeland ecosystem management strategies to achieve sustainability and continuous production in these ecosystems. In this study, the production of aerial and underground organs of grazable ...
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Awareness of the extent and impact of vegetation from livestock grazing disorders can be a solution to develop rangeland ecosystem management strategies to achieve sustainability and continuous production in these ecosystems. In this study, the production of aerial and underground organs of grazable livestock species in the southeastern rangelands of Sabalan under the influence of different grazing intensities and distance from the village as the focus of the crisis was investigated. In addition, the development and evaluation of ANFIS model was presented in order to predict the production of aerial and underground organs of food species and compare the results with the regression model. For evaluation of regression and ANFIS models the Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) and correlation coefficient (R2) were used. The results showed that different grazing intensities, distance from village and interaction between them were significant effect on the production of aerial and underground organs of palatability species at (p≤0.01). Also, with increasing grazing intensity, the production of aerial and underground organs of these species decreased. The results of ANFIS section showed that in low grazing intensity and distance of about 400 meters, the highest amount of production of palatable species is observed. The lowest production of these species is predicted to be close to the village (200 meters). Moreover, the highest amount of underground biomass at farther distances (600 meter) and lowest amount of that was observed at 200 meter. In addition, ANFIS model with higher accuracy (R2 = 0.98 and R2 = 0.95) and lower error (RMSE = 0.9792 and RMSE = 1.168) than less accurate regression model (R2 = 0.92 and R2 0.77) which also had more errors (RMSE = 2.2835 and RMSE = 3.8954), predicted the production of aerial and underground organs, respectively.
Azad Kakehmami; Ardavan Ghorbani; Mehdi Moameri; Sahar Ghafari
Volume 28, Issue 3 , October 2021, , Pages 537-550
Abstract
By evaluating land use change and land cover, it is possible to plan and land manage to reduce the impact of alteration and degradation of exploitations. The purpose of this study was to evaluate land use changes in Ardabil province between 1987 and 2015 using Thematic Mapper (TM) sensor of Landsat 5 ...
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By evaluating land use change and land cover, it is possible to plan and land manage to reduce the impact of alteration and degradation of exploitations. The purpose of this study was to evaluate land use changes in Ardabil province between 1987 and 2015 using Thematic Mapper (TM) sensor of Landsat 5 and Operational Land Imager (OLI) sensor of Landsat 8 satellite images. Firstly, the efficiency of the object-based classification method was evaluated using ground control points, error matrix, and comparing total accuracy and kappa coefficients for the resulting maps. Total accuracy and Kappa coefficients for 1987 were 82.3% and 0.70, and 2015 were 94% and 0.90, respectively. Change detection results showed that from 1987 to 2015, rangelands decreased by 4.2%, equivalent to 75039.3 hectares and forests decreased by 0.5%, equivalent to 9393.7 hectares compared to the total province area and irrigation farming increased by 3.1%, equivalent to 55276.8 hectares, residential areas increased by 0.8%, equivalent to 14989.7 hectares and dry farming increased by 0.7%, equivalent to 12632.4 hectares compared to the total province area. The most significant changes that occurred from 1987 to 2015 were the conversion of rangelands to dry farming with 13.8%, equivalent to 141794.2 hectares and irrigation farming lands with 4.8%, equivalent to 49836.9 hectares of rangelands, irrigation farming to dry farming with 7.7%, equivalent to 11464.8 hectares and forests to rangelands with 6.1%, equivalent to 1059.9 hectares which indicate that the requirement of a serious revision of the management policies.
Mohammad Fayaz; Hasan Yeganeh; Mirtaher Ghaemi; Hosein Piri Sahragard; Mehdi Moameri
Volume 21, Issue 3 , December 2014, , Pages 482-493
Abstract
Knowledge of preference value of rangeland species during the grazing period is essential for range management and planning. The purpose of this study was to investigate the preference value of plant species grazed by crossbreed cows during the grazing period in Tezkharab Rangeland of West Azerbaijan ...
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Knowledge of preference value of rangeland species during the grazing period is essential for range management and planning. The purpose of this study was to investigate the preference value of plant species grazed by crossbreed cows during the grazing period in Tezkharab Rangeland of West Azerbaijan Province using species selection index. The data required were collected over six months of grazing season for four years to calculate the species selection index. According to the obtained results, the effects of species, grazing time and their interaction were significant on species preference value. Maximum and minimum preference values were recorded for Aeluropus littoralis (1.48, class I) and Halocenumum strobilaceum (0.14, class III), respectively. The preference value changes of the studied species were constant during the months of grazing season as well as the years. Overall, available forage of halophytes in saline rangelands of Urmia could be estimated using the data of preference value.
Ghader Karimi; Hasan Yeghaneh; Mehdi Moameri; Mahmoud Goudarzi
Volume 21, Issue 2 , August 2014, , Pages 295-306
Abstract
In order to understanding of the grazing cycle and grazing behavior at different slopes of Kordan rangelands, the grazing behavior of Fashandy breed sheep was investigated for four years. Parameters examined in this study included daily distance traveled by livestock, livestock path in the ...
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In order to understanding of the grazing cycle and grazing behavior at different slopes of Kordan rangelands, the grazing behavior of Fashandy breed sheep was investigated for four years. Parameters examined in this study included daily distance traveled by livestock, livestock path in the rangeland considering the slope, livestock speed (mean, maximum and minimum) and the time spent for livestock rest and movement per day. To determine the parameters, Garmin GPS was used on the back of a 4-year-old ewe using a special belt. After livestock exit from the fold, GPS was active and at the end of the day all recorded data were extracted by Mod-track in Ilwis software. The livestock path was determined by shepherd. Results showed that during the first month of grazing season and when vegetation was more, the distance traveled by livestock was less than that of other months. In addition, the maximum and minimum distances traveled by livestock were obtained at slopes of 30-60% and less than 15%, respectively. According to the results of grazing behavior during the months of grazing season, maximum and minimum livestock speed were recorded in July and in May and June, respectively. Therefore, the grazing program in similar areas could be managed at different slopes using the obtained results in this study.