Zahra Heidari Ghahfarrokhi; Pejman Tahmasebi; Ali Asghar Naghipour
Volume 33, Issue 2 , July 2026, , Pages 122-141
Abstract
AbstractBackground and ObjectivesThe functional condition of rangeland ecosystems is strongly influenced by the structural and compositional characteristics of vegetation patches and the intervening interpatch spaces. Landscape Function Analysis (LFA) is a widely used approach for assessing patch organization ...
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AbstractBackground and ObjectivesThe functional condition of rangeland ecosystems is strongly influenced by the structural and compositional characteristics of vegetation patches and the intervening interpatch spaces. Landscape Function Analysis (LFA) is a widely used approach for assessing patch organization and evaluating key functional attributes of rangeland ecosystems. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of different livestock grazing intensities on the structural characteristics and functional performance of ecological patches in the rangelands of the Mouteh Wildlife Refuge, central Iran.Materials and MethodsThree rangeland sites representing different levels of livestock grazing pressure were selected along a grazing-intensity gradient. At each site, two representative areas were selected, and within each area, three transects, each at least 30 m long and separated by more than 60 m, were established. Along the transects, at least three replicates of each major patch type, including shrub patches and plant hummocks (grasses and forbs), as well as interpatch spaces, were identified and evaluated. Three major LFA functional indices, including stability, infiltration, and nutrient cycling, were assessed using LFA software based on 11 soil-surface indicators recorded in the field. In total, 162 patches and interpatch spaces were evaluated. Structural and functional characteristics of patches were compared among grazing intensities using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA; aov function), followed by Duncan’s multiple range test (duncan.test) in R software.ResultsThe highest values of the structural attributes of ecological patches, including the landscape organization index, number of patches per 10 m, patch area index, total patch area, and mean patch length and width, were recorded under light grazing intensity. In contrast, the highest structural values for interpatch spaces, including mean, minimum, and maximum interpatch lengths, were observed under heavy grazing intensity. In contrast to interpatch spaces and plant hummock patches, most soil-surface indicators in shrub patches differed significantly among grazing intensities (p ≤ 0.001 and p ≤ 0.01). With increasing grazing intensity, soil cover, perennial vegetation cover, crust stability, soil erosion type and severity, and slaking-test scores decreased, with the highest values recorded under light grazing (4.000, 7.429, 2.357, 3.500, and 5.429, respectively). Light grazing also resulted in the highest overall stability and infiltration indices (49.619% and 24.351%, respectively), as well as the highest values in interpatch spaces (47.994% and 23.079%), plant hummock patches (42.917% and 22.651%), and shrub patches (56.528% and 29.700%). The highest nutrient-cycling index values were also recorded under light grazing, both overall and in plant hummock patches (15.707% and 15.490%, respectively).ConclusionAppropriate rangeland management, particularly in arid and semi-arid environments, plays a critical role in maintaining and improving the structural organization and functional condition of ecological patches. Maintaining adequate vegetation cover and a diverse combination of shrubs, grasses, and forbs can enhance patch connectivity, soil-surface protection, and overall ecosystem functionality. The findings indicate that light grazing pressure is more compatible with the maintenance of organized patch structures, greater patch extent, and higher functional integrity. Consequently, grazing management based on appropriate stocking rates and controlled grazing intensity can contribute to maintaining rangeland resilience, reducing soil degradation, and sustaining key ecosystem functions in the Mouteh Wildlife Refuge.
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.
Elham Rafigh; kamaloddin naseri; mansour mesdaghi; fereydon melati
Volume 24, Issue 3 , October 2017, , Pages 547-559
ebrahim keykha; Hamid Niknahad gharmakher
Volume 24, Issue 3 , October 2017, , Pages 623-634
Syed Ali Hoseini; Manijeh Tavan; Hosein Eisaei
Volume 18, Issue 2 , September 2011, , Pages 280-291
Abstract
The amount of water infiltration into the soil depends on many factors such as soil texture, soil structure, initial moisture content, soil bulk density, canopy cover, plant age, organic matter and the plant succession stages. Livestock trampling and reduction of the vegetation cover due to the overgrazing ...
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The amount of water infiltration into the soil depends on many factors such as soil texture, soil structure, initial moisture content, soil bulk density, canopy cover, plant age, organic matter and the plant succession stages. Livestock trampling and reduction of the vegetation cover due to the overgrazing are considered as the most important factors affecting the amount of infiltration in rangelands. Winter rangelands of inchehbroon with dominant species of Halocnemum strobilaceum are introduced as the halophyte rangelands in Golestan province. Distribution pattern of plant species in these rangelands is spots surrounded by bare soil in the form of islands. In this study, heavy grazing area was determined and for measuring water infiltration into the soil, paired rings (dublering) were used. Parameters of infiltration intensity, final infiltration, cumulative infiltration and infiltration time were investigated in vegetation types of Halocnemum strobilaceum, Aeluropus lagopoides and bare soil. The results of the data analysis showed that there were no significant differences in infiltration intensity and infiltration time among Halocnemum strobilaceum, Aeluropus lagopoides and bare soil while final infiltration and cumulative infiltration significantly differed