Mohammad Zadbar; Hossein Arzani; Mojgan Azemi; Vali ... Mozafarian; ghanbar ali Shad; Faredeh Saghafi khadem; Hossein Tavakoli; Hassan Amir abadi zadeh; Somayeh Naaseri
Volume 18, Issue 2 , September 2011, , Pages 231-243
Abstract
Rangelands play a key role in country's economy not only for livestock grazing but also for soil and water conservation and other services.This research was based upon a national plan of rangeland monitoring performed in different climatic regions of Iran. Three sites including Asalmeh Bajgiran, Tavakal ...
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Rangelands play a key role in country's economy not only for livestock grazing but also for soil and water conservation and other services.This research was based upon a national plan of rangeland monitoring performed in different climatic regions of Iran. Three sites including Asalmeh Bajgiran, Tavakal bagh Quchan and Shah jahan Esfarayen were selected based on the vegetation cover which represents a part of vegetation of mountainous rangelands in north Khorasan.The experiment was carried out on six linear transects, each transect included ten quadrates of 1.1 m2 and canopy cover, density and plant production were monitored during the period of four years (2004 to 2007).Average of the canopy cover in the mentioned sites were 69.94% ,41.38% and 48.44% respectively, containing perennial grasses, shrubs, grass-like species, and annual or perennial forbs. Average of the annual production was obtained as 654, 356 and 506 (kg/ha/year) respectively.In Asameh rangeland, there is no spring for drinking water and that is why livestock grazing is light with a good condition of vegetation. In Tavakal Bagh, grazing time is longer due to the vicinity to the village. In Tavakal Bagh and Shah Jehan Esfarayen early and heavy grazing are observed. Therefore, with regard to the same precipitation, it could be concluded that grazing is the effective factor in reduction of the range lands production.
Jamal Imani; Ali Tavili; Esaa Bandak; Bahram Gholinejad
Volume 17, Issue 3 , October 2010, , Pages 393-401
Abstract
Analysis of vegetation is one of the important factors in appropriate management of rangelands. The current research was conducted to evaluate canopy cover percentage, forage production, and species density in four areas including reference area, personal rangeland, key area and critical area in the ...
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Analysis of vegetation is one of the important factors in appropriate management of rangelands. The current research was conducted to evaluate canopy cover percentage, forage production, and species density in four areas including reference area, personal rangeland, key area and critical area in the region of village. In each area, 5 transects were established on which 10 quadrate 1 m were used with regard to the plant type and distribution of species. The lengths of each transect and the distance between them were determined 100 m and 20 m respectively according to the species density and distribution. Canopy cover percentage, forage production and species density were recorded in all quadrates. Clipping and weighing method was used to estimate forage production. Data analysis was performed using one way ANOVA and Duncan test. Results indicated that there was significant difference in canopy cover percentage (p≤ 0/1), forage production (p≤ 0/05) and species density (p≤ 0/01) among 4 studied areas. The result showed that with moving from reference to critical area, canopy cover percentage, forage production and species density dramatically decreased as palatable species (class I), average palatable species and non palatable and invasive species had the most canopy cover percentage, forage production and density respectively in reference area, personal rangeland and common area between village and critical area. Perennials and palatable grasses such as Bromus tomentellus and Hordeum bolbosum had the highest canopy cover percentage, forage production and density in reference area. With a gradual increase in grazing intensity, percentage of palatable species decreased while non palatable species like Boisseria squarrosa and Centaurea virgata increased. This research revealed that heavy grazing jeopardized the sustainability of the rangeland ecosystem by creating unfavorable changes in vegetation characteristics.