Gholamreza Naseri; Ghasemali Abrsaji; Mohammad Fayaz
Volume 22, Issue 2 , August 2015, , Pages 373-381
Abstract
This research was aimed to study the preference value of range species in Til Abad rangelands. To determine the preference value, timing method as well as measuring the production and consumption of species was used. According to the results of analysis of variance, significant differences were found ...
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This research was aimed to study the preference value of range species in Til Abad rangelands. To determine the preference value, timing method as well as measuring the production and consumption of species was used. According to the results of analysis of variance, significant differences were found for the study species in timing method, so that maximum consumption time was recorded for Artemisia sieberi, Poa bulbosa and annual species, respectively. The results of species utilization percentage also showed that there were significant differences among the study species. The highest consumption rate was recorded for Poa bulbosa and annual species. Artemisia sieberi, Festuca ovina and Stipa barbata had an average preference value; however, Poa bulbosa and annual species were relatively palatable. Our results clearly showed that species density and abundance and access to forage species strongly affected the preference value. Generally, in bothe methods studied, Artemisia sieberi, Poa bulbosa and annual species were more grazed as compared to other species.
Mohammad Fayaz; Seyed Hamid Habibian; Hasan Yeganeh; Avar Sanaie
Volume 22, Issue 1 , June 2015, , Pages 1-11
Abstract
In this research, the preference value of range species for sheep and goat was studied in the Cheshme-Anjir rangelands of Fars province during four years (2007-2010). Direct observation (timing) method was used during the grazing months (June, July, August and September). In each month, around one to ...
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In this research, the preference value of range species for sheep and goat was studied in the Cheshme-Anjir rangelands of Fars province during four years (2007-2010). Direct observation (timing) method was used during the grazing months (June, July, August and September). In each month, around one to two hours after entering livestock to the rangeland, livestock grazing was filmed for 30 minutes and was transferred to the computer to determine the time of grazing for each species. In addition, the frequency and duration of the use of each species in the mentioned months was examined. Afterward, data were analyzed by SAS software in a completely randomized block design. Results showed that there was significant difference (p<0.01) among the species studied in terms of time percentage and grazing frequency. However, the effect of month and month*species for time percentage and grazing frequency treatments was not significant. The results of preference value of species showed that maximum time percentage and grazing frequency for sheep and goat was on annual grasses+ forbs, and in general, results showed that goat was a browser livestock and sheep was a grazer livestock.
Sedighe Zarekia; Parvaneh Ashouri; Mohammad Fayaz; Mahmood Goudarzi; Niloofar Zare
Volume 21, Issue 4 , March 2015, , Pages 676-684
Abstract
Livestock is one of the components of rangeland ecosystems. Different grazing behaviors would be observed according to the climatic conditions, the type of livestock and vegetation. Knowledge of livestock grazing behavior on rangelands could be useful in the planning and utilization of rangelands. For ...
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Livestock is one of the components of rangeland ecosystems. Different grazing behaviors would be observed according to the climatic conditions, the type of livestock and vegetation. Knowledge of livestock grazing behavior on rangelands could be useful in the planning and utilization of rangelands. For this purpose, in this study, the grazing behavior of sheep in the steppe rangeland of Saveh was investigated. Initially, a three-year-old ewe was selected, then, using a geographic positioning system (GPS), the path of movement, the time of arrival and departure of livestock, time of rest and movement speed were recorded. Data were entered into the GIS and statistically analyzed using two-way analysis of variance. Results showed that, except for the livestock average speed, there was no significant difference among the measured parameters of grazing behavior during the four years of study. The time spent for movement and rest in different months of the grazing seasonshowed significant differences, while the length of the grazing path had no significant difference during different months. The highest time spent for movement and rest was attributed to May, although the grazing distance in May was not significantly different from other months, indicating the presence of more and better forage for grazing in this month. The lowest average speed of livestock was recorded in May. The most covered distance by sheep occurred in slope gradient ranging from 0 to 8% with dominant cover of Artemisia sieberi and Salsola laricina. Generally, it could be concluded that livestock grazing behavior and rangeland management could be better evaluated using GPS technology and GIS.
Mohammad Fayaz; Hooshmand Safari; Hasan Yeganeh; Gholam Hosein Rahmani; Hosein Tavakoli; Mohammad Akbarzadeh; Mohammad Ghaytoori; Ahmad Ahmadi
Volume 21, Issue 4 , March 2015, , Pages 731-746
Abstract
Rangelands are one of the major sources of forage production in the country and in addition to its effects on the production of livestock products, a large population is dependent on rangelands because of animal husbandry. Since the government applies management on rangelands through range management ...
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Rangelands are one of the major sources of forage production in the country and in addition to its effects on the production of livestock products, a large population is dependent on rangelands because of animal husbandry. Since the government applies management on rangelands through range management plans, therefore, in this study, direct and indirect effects of management variables on range condition and trend as well as rangeland production were investigated by selecting three range management plans at three levels of successful, moderately successful and unsuccessful in Kerman, Kermanshah, Mazandaran, Khorasan Razavi and West Azarbaijan provinces. Management variables were included as follows: the accuracy of rangeland and livestock data, project compatibility with natural conditions, beneficiaries' conditions, funding and the capabilities of human resources, predicting the executive and beneficiaries' obligations, executive calendar, and active supervisors. According to the results of rank correlation by Spearman, variables of range condition and trend as well as rangeland production had a high rank correlation together.According to the results of path analysis, variables including the accuracy of rangeland data, project compatibility with the capabilities of human resources, predicting the executive obligations, active supervisors, and beneficiaries' obligations were the factors which improved range condition and trend as well as rangeland production. Due to the negative impact of variables including project compatibility with funding, project compatibility with beneficiaries' conditions, and executive calendar on range condition and trend as well as rangeland production, these variables must be revised and their function need be evaluated. In addition, it is emphasized that greater sensitivity is required in planning for the future due to the negative effect of these variables. Other variables had no favorable or negative effect directly; however, they affected range condition and range trend as well as rangeland production indirectly.
Seyed ali Hoseini; Mohammad Fayaz
Volume 21, Issue 3 , December 2014, , Pages 424-434
Abstract
Determining the preference value of range plant species and its variation during the grazing season is one of the factors affecting the grazing capacity of rangeland. This study was conducted in semi steppe rangelands of Saraliabad Gorgan, located 45 km far from south Gorgan. Saraliabad rangelands have ...
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Determining the preference value of range plant species and its variation during the grazing season is one of the factors affecting the grazing capacity of rangeland. This study was conducted in semi steppe rangelands of Saraliabad Gorgan, located 45 km far from south Gorgan. Saraliabad rangelands have important role because of providing required forage especially at the times that all plain lands of the province are under planting of agricultural products. This research was aimed to determine the preference value of rangeland species for four years and during the three months of livestock presence on rangeland through estimating the consumption rate. Data were analyzed by SPSS software and mean comparison was performed by Duncan's Multiple Range Test. Results showed that there were significant differences between the preference index of species, years and months (P<0.01). According to the consumption percentage, the preference value of the most species was medium (class II), except Cousinia glaucopsis, classified as a non-palatable species (class III). The highest preference value was recorded for Medicago lupulina, Achillea millefolium, Galium verum and Medicago sativa, respectively and the lowest was obtained for Cousinia glaucopsis.
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.
Mostafa Zare; Mohammad Fayaz; Gholamreza Goudarzi; Ali Farmahini
Volume 21, Issue 2 , August 2014, , Pages 329-335
Abstract
Temporal and spatial factors have different effects on grazing behavior so that different temporal parameters including the speed and distance walked by livestock are among the factors that can serve as an important tool in grazing management. This research was conducted in Anjedan, a semi-steppe ...
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Temporal and spatial factors have different effects on grazing behavior so that different temporal parameters including the speed and distance walked by livestock are among the factors that can serve as an important tool in grazing management. This research was conducted in Anjedan, a semi-steppe region in Arak province, in different months of grazing season (five months) during 2007-2010. To determine the parameters, a GPS, attached to the livestock, was used in a certain day of each month of grazing season. The speed of livestock movement, the length of distance walked by livestock, and the time spent for grazing, rest and movement were recorded. The data were analyzed in a completely randomized design and the means were compared using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test. According to the obtained results, the speed of livestock movement, the length of distance walked by livestock and the time spent for rest and movement showed significant difference during the studied years as well as in the months of grazing season. The time spent for grazing did not show significant difference in different years; however a significant difference at 5% level of probability was recorded in different months. More grazing, movement and rest and less distance walked by livestock were recorded when the environmental and climatic conditions were appropriate for the growth of range species especially annuals.
Jamal Hasani; Mohammad Fayaz
Volume 21, Issue 2 , August 2014, , Pages 357-367
Abstract
This study was performed in the Qorveh rangeland of Kurdistan for five years (2006-2010) to determine the preference value of range species and grazing behavior. The preference value of range species was measured with two methods (time study and preference index). According to the obtained results, significant ...
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This study was performed in the Qorveh rangeland of Kurdistan for five years (2006-2010) to determine the preference value of range species and grazing behavior. The preference value of range species was measured with two methods (time study and preference index). According to the obtained results, significant differences were found for the years and plant species in terms of grazing time percentage, at 1% level of probability. Mean comparison of grazing time percentage showed that Bromus tomentellus with an average of 12.31% together with annuals was classified in one class, and Galium verum, Thymus daenensis, Pterocephalus canus, Poa bulbosa and other species were classified in another class. The lowest grazing time percentage (0.33%) was recorded for Prangos ferulacea. Our results clearly showed that Stipa bromoiedes and Festuca ovina were much less grazed by livestock.
Mostafah Zare; Mohammad Fayyaz; Gholamreza Goudarzi; Ali Farmahini farahani
Volume 19, Issue 1 , June 2012, , Pages 178-190
Abstract
The preference value is defined as selection of available species by livestock in the free grazing. This study was conducted in semi steppe rangelands of Anjedan located 35 Km far from east Arak. These rangelands are of important centers for keeping livestock which is under heavy grazing with a poor ...
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The preference value is defined as selection of available species by livestock in the free grazing. This study was conducted in semi steppe rangelands of Anjedan located 35 Km far from east Arak. These rangelands are of important centers for keeping livestock which is under heavy grazing with a poor condition. The soil of the study area is loamy with high stone and gravel. This study was performed to determine the preference value of important species for sheep to support palatable species in range management plans. Direct observation (timing) method was used to calculate the time spent on livestock grazing and presence during grazing season for 3 years. Afterward, data were analyzed by SAS software in a complete random block design and Duncan test was used for mean comparisons. The results showed the preference value in different season grazing months significantly differed (p<0.01). Generally, annual grasses and forbsshowed maximum preference value. Plant litters, Bromus tomentelus, Artemisia aucheri, Buffonia koelzii respectively ranked next in terms of preference value.
Mahdi Farahpour; Mahdi Adnani; Mohammad Fayaz
Volume 18, Issue 2 , September 2011, , Pages 258-268
Abstract
Herding system in countries like Iran with ancient herding celebrity is very important. The system should be recorded for the next generation to remind them of what their ancestors have had. This research was conducted by new techniques such as GPSto track the system at Hosesoltan range adjacent to Hosesoltan ...
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Herding system in countries like Iran with ancient herding celebrity is very important. The system should be recorded for the next generation to remind them of what their ancestors have had. This research was conducted by new techniques such as GPSto track the system at Hosesoltan range adjacent to Hosesoltan Lake for three years, 2006 to 2008. A GPS was installed on the back of a three years ewe and her movement such as departure from resting area to rangelands and its reverse, course time of grazing, rest and moving without grazing were recorded. Maximum and minimum speed of the animal also was measured. This survey suggests that the system is smart enough in terms of limitations and available sources.
Farhad Azhir; Ali-ashraf Jafari; Mohammad Fayaz
Volume 18, Issue 1 , May 2011, , Pages 139-150
Abstract
In order to determine the best genotype for range improvement in Tehran province, Iran, 19 ecotypes of Agropyron cristatum were sown using randomized complete block design with three replications under irrigation and dry land farming system during 2006- 2007. Data were collected and analyzed for ...
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In order to determine the best genotype for range improvement in Tehran province, Iran, 19 ecotypes of Agropyron cristatum were sown using randomized complete block design with three replications under irrigation and dry land farming system during 2006- 2007. Data were collected and analyzed for dry matter (DM) yield, flowering and pollinating date, plant height and 5 quality traits as: dry matter digestibility (DMD), water soluble carbohydrates (WSC), crude protean (CP), total ash, and acid detergent fiber (ADF).The results showed significant difference at 1% level of confidence for yield and morphological traits while no significant differences were observed for forage quality under two different cultivation conditions. The difference between ecotypes and environment-ecotype interaction effecets were significant for all traits of the species.Ecotypes 208P8 and 4056P4 with average values of 1240 and 1336 Kg/ha had higher forage yield in irrigation condition while in dry land condition, forage yield of ecotypes 619M and 4056P4 with average values of 791 and 901 Kg/ha were maximum.According to the results, ecotypes 1722M (Gorgan), 208P8 (Esfahan)and 4056P4 (Gorgan) with average yield value were identified as the best ones for both yield and quality traits in studied cultivation conditions to be introduced for cultivation in dry land faming in Tehran province.DM yield had positive correlation with plant establishment.WSC had positive and negative correlation with DMD and CP, respectively. The relationship between DMD and ADF was negatively significant.
Naser Ansari; Mohammad Fayaz; Mohammad hassan Gasemi
Volume 16, Issue 3 , December 2009, , Pages 293-304
Abstract
Rangelands degradation is the most important problem of Iran natural resources, especially in these decade .In this research for determination of the quality and quantity of rangelands degradation,9 provinces distributed within 3 main zones of Henry Pabbot’s climatic zones map of Iran territory, ...
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Rangelands degradation is the most important problem of Iran natural resources, especially in these decade .In this research for determination of the quality and quantity of rangelands degradation,9 provinces distributed within 3 main zones of Henry Pabbot’s climatic zones map of Iran territory, were selected. In these provinces, sample areas in each climatic zone were bounded on topographic maps. In the sample areas, converted rangelands to other usages, from 1955 to 1995(40 years) and then, lost and converted rangelands clarified. Considerable decline in forage production of the rangelands were also well described by comparing dry matter yield in an enclosure and the fenced area. Results showed that 9.1% of the rangelands areas, during 40 years between 1955-1995 periods, had been disappeared. Rangelands degradation in semi-desert zone with degradation index of 28.4% is lowest and in high-mountain zone with degradation index of 60.5% is the highest one. Degradation intensity in high-mountain zone is as twice as semi-desert zones. Average of degradation index for all the country zones, is 49.4% that revealed, about half of the production potential of the rangelands has been lost.