Hasan Ghelichnia; Alireza Eftekhari
Volume 31, Issue 1 , June 2024, , Pages 28-52
Abstract
AbstractBackground and objective: The monitoring and evaluation rangelands provides the necessary information for the essential planning of rangeland management. As a result, it prevents the destruction of rangelands and water and soil conservation. This research aims to prepare a continuous database ...
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AbstractBackground and objective: The monitoring and evaluation rangelands provides the necessary information for the essential planning of rangeland management. As a result, it prevents the destruction of rangelands and water and soil conservation. This research aims to prepare a continuous database of vegetation and soil indicators in rangelands and monitor their changes, determine the relationship between vegetation indicators and climatic factors, determine the trend and intensity of changes in different managements, and provide information for calculating the long-term capacity of rangelands.Methodology: For this study, the Asbchar site was selected in the rangelands of the Baladeh region in Mazandaran province and was evaluated and monitored for five years (2017-2021). In order to evaluate the indicators of vegetation cover, three transects of 100 meters were placed at a distance of 50 meters from each other. Vegetation and soil factors were measured. Vegetation factors included canopy cover, density and production of plant species, litter, rangeland condition and trend. Soil factors include pH, E.C., nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, organic matter, soil bulk density and soil texture. Ten plots of 1m2 were placed in each transect, and a total of 30 plots were placed in exclosure and grazed areas. The crown cover of any plant species with the method of measuring the crown surface, the density by counting the number of species, the production by cutting and weighing, and the percentage of stone and gravel cover, litter, and bare soil were also measured in the plots. Data testing was done in Minitab16 software.Results:The analysis of variance results has shown a significant difference between most vegetation and soil factors in different years. The comparison of the averages of vegetation and soil factors investigated in different years shows that the highest average percentage of the total cover was related to the exclosure region. The highest average value was related to 2010, 2021 and 2019, respectively, and the lowest was the year 2017. The correlation between the total cover of the exclosure region with the total production, the percentage of nitrogen inside and outside the plant, the amount of potassium outside the plant, the annual rainfall, the rainfall of the growing season and the rainfall of autumn and winter seasons in exclosure region is significant. Also, the correlation between total production and annual rainfall, rainfall in the growing season and rainfall in autumn and winter seasons is significant. The correlation between total cover with total production, nitrogen percentage under plants, annual rainfall, growing season rainfall and autumn and winter rainfall in the grazed area is significant. Also, the correlation between total production with rainfall in the growing season and rainfall in the autumn and winter seasons is significant. The step-by-step regression results showed that climatic factors such as growing season rainfall, total fall and winter rainfall, and soil factors such as E.C., pH, % O.M. and %N were used to predict the total cover and production.Conclusion: The results of this research show a significant difference between the total crown cover, production and density of species during five years. Also, there is a significant difference between the exclosure and grazed areas in terms of all the factors examined in this research. The percentage of coverage, production and density of the perennial grasses and forbs in the exclosure region was higher than in the grazed region. The research results over five years showed that when autumn and winter rainfall and total rainfall and rainfall in the growing season were greater, an increasing trend was also seen in vegetation characteristics.
Amirreza Moradi; kamalodin Naseri; Mehdi Kolahi
Volume 29, Issue 2 , July 2022, , Pages 131-145
Abstract
Awareness of knowledge and attitude of rangeland owners towards the problems and management of this ecosystem is essential for decision making and planning. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the views of rangers and natural resources experts on the impact of the implementation ...
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Awareness of knowledge and attitude of rangeland owners towards the problems and management of this ecosystem is essential for decision making and planning. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the views of rangers and natural resources experts on the impact of the implementation of rangeland projects as well as their participation and cooperation in the success of these projects. The study area was the city of Torbat-e Jam. Examining the rangeland management plans of Torbat-e-Jam city from 1993 to 2014, it was found that five plans in Bashirabad, Cheshmeh Gol, Goyi, Timanak Sofla, and Jahanabad areas have been implemented. The statistical population of the study includes 464 farmers who are pastoralists with grazing licenses. Using Cochran's formula, 186 samples were systematically randomly selected and questioned. Then, from the statistical analysis of the data and by examining all the measured variables and components, it was found that there is a significant linear relationship between the views of regional stakeholders and economic, educational, social participation, and institutional cooperation. The results showed that the most important components affecting the view of stakeholders to participate in rangeland projects are the study of economic and social needs before the approval of projects and approval of projects following the needs of villagers, including income and housing, and selection of executors from among stakeholders. It is suggested that to improve the results of watershed management projects in the study area, continuous coordination between the extension departments of the cities to hold orientation, training, and cooperation-oriented classes in the field of proper rangeland management should be on the agenda.
Amir Ghorbankhani; Hossein Arzani; Ali Tavili; Javad Motamedi
Volume 29, Issue 1 , February 2022, , Pages 1-10
Abstract
Salsola laricina is one of the main elements of vegetation communities in the steppe rangelands of the dryland region, which protects it from disturbances and provides conditions that can preserve its ability to rehabilitate after chest, is one of the basic requirements of rangeland management in such ...
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Salsola laricina is one of the main elements of vegetation communities in the steppe rangelands of the dryland region, which protects it from disturbances and provides conditions that can preserve its ability to rehabilitate after chest, is one of the basic requirements of rangeland management in such fields. Therefore, in the present study, the variability of structural and functional traits and morphological characteristics and seed germination were tested under supportive grazing. For this purpose, by establishing a sampling system inside and outside of the 10 year old Khoshkerood detention, the vegetation cover and structural and functional traits of Salsola laricina species, such as crown cover, density and forage production in the field were measured. Seed of healthy and healthy rootstocks, morphological characteristics and seed germination, such as; 1000 seed weight, germination percentage, germination rate, root length, stem, seedling, and finally vigor index (straw) Seed) was measured in laboratory conditions. The results showed that the values of structural and functional traits, inside the enclosure, are more than outside the enclosure. In this regard, the percentage of crown cover, density, and amount of production of Salsola laricina species were respectively in the enclosure relative to the outcrop, 5.46 and 3.6%, 21600 and 17000 bases per hectare and 161.4 and 12.71 kg respectively hectare. The average of morphological and germination characteristics of the seeds collected from the intruder was also greater than the outside grazing. So that the highest index of seed vigor as a sum of outcomes of morphological and germinating properties in inoculated and outcroped seeds is 389.88 and 1037.37, respectively. The increase of these values in the enclosure relative to the outcrop; indicates the effect of supportive grazing on the improvement of structural and functional characteristics and the morphological and seed germination characteristics of rangeland species in vulnerable ecosystems in arid areas.
Sedigheh Zarekia; Naser Baghestani Meybodi; Alibeman Mirjalili; Mohammadreza Ahmadi Roknabadi
Volume 28, Issue 1 , April 2021, , Pages 69-81
Abstract
To investigate the effect of biomechanical methods on increasing the vegetation in arid areas, three regions (Ashkezar, Ghahar, and Chahmatk of Ardakan) in Yazd province were selected. Statistical sites were determined within the scope of rainfall storage operations and outside it (control), and at the ...
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To investigate the effect of biomechanical methods on increasing the vegetation in arid areas, three regions (Ashkezar, Ghahar, and Chahmatk of Ardakan) in Yazd province were selected. Statistical sites were determined within the scope of rainfall storage operations and outside it (control), and at the end of the growing season (May 2018), a survey was conducted. To do this, in each area, 100 plots of 9 square meters (3*3) at a distance of 12 meters from each other and along five transects of 300 meters, which were considered in parallel and at a distance of 100 meters from each other were placed. In each plot, canopy cover percentage and density of different species were measured. Data were compared with a t-test. The results indicate an increase in the canopy within the furrow and crescent. The canopy average in the Ashkezar and Chahmatk of Ardakan rangelands in the rain storage region increased from 2 to 3% compared to the control area. Also, an increase in the density of different species was observed in the precipitation storage area. However, sowing has been done only in the year of rainfall storage. In general, due to vegetation status and plant density by species segregation, performing remedial storage operations along with seeding using Artemisia sieberi and Salsola tomentosa species can be successful for desert rangelands with less than 100 mm of rainfall.
Hosein Gharedaghi; Bahram Peymani Fard
Volume 8, Issue 2 , September 2019, , Pages 27-60
Mehdi Zohdi; Hosein Arzani; Seyed Akbar Javadi; Adel Jalili; Gholamhosein Khorshidi
Volume 25, Issue 4 , February 2019, , Pages 898-910
Abstract
Rules and regulations in the last few decades have had a great impact on rangelands and its exploitation; on the other hand, these rules are the foundation of the policies governing the type of management and relevant government agencies. The aim of this research was to examine ...
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Rules and regulations in the last few decades have had a great impact on rangelands and its exploitation; on the other hand, these rules are the foundation of the policies governing the type of management and relevant government agencies. The aim of this research was to examine the effectiveness of the laws and regulations related to the rangeland and range management, with the help of a survey of experts and rangeland specialist. In this regard, the community of rangeland specialists or natural resources experts, who were empirically and professionally related to rangeland and range management issues, was identified and their opinion was collected through questionnaires. The audience was divided into three main groups of executive and research experts and academics. A total of 268 questionnaires were completed and the responses were analyzed using descriptive statistical methods. The results showed that, in general, the existing rules and regulations could not prevent the degradation of rangelands and result in rangeland conservation and improvement, and these rules have greatly contributed to the collapse of the range management systems in the past, while an appropriate management system has not been replaced. Moreover, a large part of respondents believed that the laws and regulations need to be reviewed and updated.
Mahshid Souri; Mohammad Fayaz; Nadia Kamali; Saeedeh Nateghi
Volume 25, Issue 4 , February 2019, , Pages 911-922
Abstract
The main objective of this research was to evaluate vegetation changes and soil indicators in the Kalat Sadat Sabzevar area under rangeland management practices. Vegetation factors including plant species production, vegetation cover, cover percentage, litter percentage, plant ...
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The main objective of this research was to evaluate vegetation changes and soil indicators in the Kalat Sadat Sabzevar area under rangeland management practices. Vegetation factors including plant species production, vegetation cover, cover percentage, litter percentage, plant species density, and rangeland condition and trend were measured at the exclosure site and adjacent control site. The assessment was conducted using a random-systematic method with a sufficient number of samples and appropriate distribution of samples at the time of rangeland readiness. The rangeland trend was determined on the basis of two methods, and rangeland condition was determined based on the four-factor method. Soil sampling was carried out at a depth of 20 cm. A total of 12 soil samples were taken from the first, second and third transects (exclosure site), as well as fourth, fifth and sixth (control site). Data were analyzed by the independent t-test using SPSS software. According to the obtained results, the highest canopy cover percentage in terms of palatability belonged to class II plants (19.37), and in terms of vegetative form belonged to the perennial plants (16.2). Also, the largest share of production in the exclosure site and grazing site was related to shrubs and perennial grasses, respectively. The results showed that clay, silt, lime, organic carbon, nitrogen and electrical conductivity were significantly different at 5% level between the exclosure and grazing sites, but there was no significant difference between acidity and phosphorous. Therefore, exclosure could be recommended as an improvement practice to be carried out in more areas of the region.
Mojgansadat Azimi; samaneh Mahzari
Volume 25, Issue 1 , April 2018, , Pages 129-139
Abstract
In water efficiency studies, the values of runoff, evapotranspiration and range production are the main variables. Rangelands of Golestan province, Iran, have a high potential of run-off due to the geographical location, climate, and destruction of these resources as well as drastic ...
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In water efficiency studies, the values of runoff, evapotranspiration and range production are the main variables. Rangelands of Golestan province, Iran, have a high potential of run-off due to the geographical location, climate, and destruction of these resources as well as drastic land use change from forests and rangelands to agricultural lands. Therefore, in the present study, in order to determine the best management of rangelands, we developed a rangeland improvement model using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) in the Gorganrud Watershed, Golestan Iran. Calibration and validation of model was performed using Sequential Uncertainty Fitting Program (SUFI-2) in the eco-hydrological model SWAT. For this purpose, the SWAT was calibrated and validated for a 31-year period of discharge and 5-year period of range production and then the model was executed for different scenarios of rangeland management. The results showed that the model performance was satisfactory for predicting discharge. The values of Nash-Sutcliffe coefficient were calculated to be 0.72, 0.71 and 0.64 in calibration period and 0.59, 0.48 and 0.53 in validation period for Basirabad, Tilabad and Haji Ghoshan stations, respectively. As well, four range improvement scenarios (mechanical, biological, biomechanical and livestock grazing management) were defined in this study. On average, by applying mechanical, biological, biomechanical, and grazing management scenarios evapotranspiration was increased to 2.3%, 12.8%, 15.5% and 2.8%, respectively, in comparison with actual evapotranspiration. According to the obtained results, the biomechanical scenario was identified as the best one in increasing evapotranspiration in poor and moderate rangelands.
bahram Gholi Nejad
Volume 22, Issue 2 , August 2015, , Pages 298-307
Abstract
This study was aimed to determine the variation of species diversity, richness and evenness of plant species under various managements (different range conditions) in five vegetation types. After determining vegetation types, range condition was measured applying the method of society for range management ...
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This study was aimed to determine the variation of species diversity, richness and evenness of plant species under various managements (different range conditions) in five vegetation types. After determining vegetation types, range condition was measured applying the method of society for range management (SRM). In order to assess species diversity, richness and evenness, canopy cover percentage and species density were determined along transects within plots. Species diversity was determined using Simpson index, Shannon-wiener function and Hill index(N1 and N2) and species richness was determined by Margalef, Minhinnick, Bootstrap and Jack-Knife methods and species evenness was measured using Simpson, Camargo, Smith-Wilson and Nay revised index. Mean comparison test (non-paired t-student test) was used to determine the relationship between species diversity, richness and species evenness under different conditions. The results showed that in various managements with changes in range condition, a trend of regular changes could be observed between vegetation cover and range condition. In other words, the value of estimated indices of species diversity and evenness was higher in good range condition as compared to the fair and poor range condition; however, the maximum value of species richness was related to good, fair, and poor conditions, respectively. Results of mean comparisons showed a significant difference between good and poor condition for most of the indices used in species diversity, richness and evenness, while there was no significant difference between good and moderate condition.
Gholam reza badjian
Volume 14, Issue 4 , February 2008, , Pages 524-538
Abstract
Nomadic rangeland system is part of rangeland system in Iran and is inflicted to volatility, like nomadism, during decades. The management of this system is imposed to some changes during the past and the effective factors on this system have caused some challenges and the analysis of these challenges ...
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Nomadic rangeland system is part of rangeland system in Iran and is inflicted to volatility, like nomadism, during decades. The management of this system is imposed to some changes during the past and the effective factors on this system have caused some challenges and the analysis of these challenges lead to some guidance for nomads. In this paper the changes on the past nomadic rangeland management, recognition of effective factors on this management, the occurred challenges and some clarifications at present time are studied and analyzed. These challenges are disequilibrium of rangeland carrying capacity, population pressure on rangelands, contemporary needs occasionally leading to encroaching to rangelands with covetousness, making nomadic decisions, programs and managements distinctively, incompatibility of technology with ecological nomadic rangeland management, and the lack of guidance role of the government in nomads settle down. This paper propose that the development and clarification for these challenges should be based on local participation, so for that, the nomadic social and cultural condition should be considered. Nomadic rangeland management can be done in presence of local social structure, traditional communication and apply of recognized ecological factors. The simulated nomadic production system based on this management could help the decision makers for better programming in nomad’s community.
Faez Raeisi Kahrouie; Jahangard Mohammadi; Esmaiel Asadi
Volume 9, Issue 3 , September 2001, , Pages 991-1004