Mohammad Daneshi; Mojgansadat Azimi; Hamid Niknahad Gharehmakhor; Elham Faghani
Volume 30, Issue 4 , February 2024, , Pages 542-556
Abstract
Background and objectivesDue to the increase in the consumption of fossil fuels and chemical fertilizers, especially nitrogen-containing fertilizers, the entry of nitrogen into the cycle of ecosystems has been more than normal.Nitrogen deposition as a consequence of increasing nitrogen input to the atmosphere, ...
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Background and objectivesDue to the increase in the consumption of fossil fuels and chemical fertilizers, especially nitrogen-containing fertilizers, the entry of nitrogen into the cycle of ecosystems has been more than normal.Nitrogen deposition as a consequence of increasing nitrogen input to the atmosphere, can be a threat to ecosystems. It can affect soil properties, soil microorganisms and their activities, vegetation and animals. The aim of the present study is to investigate the effects of deposition of different rates of atmospheric nitrogen on the biochemical properties of a summer rangeland's soil. Methodology For this purpose, the seeds of Medicago sativa were planted in 36 pots containing rangeland soil in a completely randomized block design. Two months after seed germination in pots, six Nitrogen treatments included control,30, 60,90,120 and 150 kg ammonium nitrate/ha which dissolved in water were applied in 6 replications during a period of 75 days. At the end of experiment, some soil biochemical properties (acidity, electrical conductivity, absorbable phosphorus, total nitrogen, organic carbon and exchangeable potassium along with biomass and microbial respiration) and Root weight and depth factors were measured. Data analysis was done using analysis of variance method and mean comparison was done using Duncan's test. ResultsThe results demonstrated that increasing the level of ammonium nitrate deposition to 60 and 90 kg per hectare per year, despite the significant increase (p < 0.05) of organic carbon and total soil nitrogen, causes a significant decrease in other measured biochemical properties of the soil (p < 0.05). An increase in nitrogen deposition in the early stages may be partially responsible for root growth, but with nitrogen saturation in the soil and the occurrence of nitrate leaching, as well as the loss of soil fertility, unfavorable conditions for root growth are provided. With the increase of nitrogen deposition in the soil, up to the level of 60 kg /ha, the average respiration and microbial biomass increased, But at higher levels of nitrogen deposition, respiration and microbial biomass decreased.ConclusionIn case of an increase in mineral nitrogen deposition in the studied area, it is recommended to use the Medicago sativa in the improvement of vegetation restoration projects of summer rangelands to absorb the deposed mineral nitrogen in excess of the soil holding capacity, its alleviate negative consequences and creating a suitable root zone for the the activity of soil microbial.
Mahshid Souri; mirfarhad blurfrush; Hirad Aghbari; javad motamedi; Behnaz Attaeian
Volume 27, Issue 3 , October 2020, , Pages 369-409
Abstract
If the rangeland forage is used continuously, the important elements such as NPC do not return to the soil, which will cause the rangeland lands to lose their fertility. Therefore, nowadays, in the field of rangeland management, rangeland improvement and rehabilitation has become ...
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If the rangeland forage is used continuously, the important elements such as NPC do not return to the soil, which will cause the rangeland lands to lose their fertility. Therefore, nowadays, in the field of rangeland management, rangeland improvement and rehabilitation has become very important. The use of fertilizers is one of the methods to rehabilitation the rangelands. If the proper fertilizer application is carried out in accordance with the climatic conditions, cover condition, and soil characteristics, it will improve the rangeland. Otherwise, it will increase the concentration of salts, soil toxicity, and surface and groundwater contamination and leads to drying of the plants. The aim of this study is to present a model based on the use of an artificial neural network that expresses the relationships between organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus of rangeland soil and plant factors, based on which, it is possible to estimate the mentioned elements in the rangeland ecosystems without statistics to manage fertilization. Based on the results, organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus of the soil were estimated in the Nazlocha rangeland of Urmia. Eight factors of electrical conductivity, acidity, clay percentage, silt percentage, sand percentage, lime content, production and canopy cover percentage of rangeland plants were also selected for factor analysis. Therefore, according to the mentioned results, the neural network was able to accurately predict the amount of organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus in rangeland soils. According to the results, the vegetation type Astragalus gummifera-prangos uloptera-Bromus tomentellus requires phosphorus and nitrogen fertilizers. Onobrychis cornuta- Festuca ovina-Thymus kotschyanus requires phosphorus fertilizer, and Astragalus macrostachys-Noeae mucronata-Stipa barbata requires organic matter and nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers.
Samaneh Mohammadi; Hossein Barani
Volume 25, Issue 3 , November 2018, , Pages 562-576
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the socio-economic impacts of range management plans in the Mashhad County. Accordingly, 16 range management plans, approved during 1993 to 2012, were studied in three categories including executed, unexecuted and under execution plans. To ...
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The purpose of this study was to evaluate the socio-economic impacts of range management plans in the Mashhad County. Accordingly, 16 range management plans, approved during 1993 to 2012, were studied in three categories including executed, unexecuted and under execution plans. To achieve this purpose, some questionnaires were prepared with respect to the number of the beneficiaries in 15 range allotments and 48 samples were selected at random. The questionnaires were answered by the beneficiaries and the data were analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics in the SPSS software. The results showed that the beneficiaries considered the implementation of these plans to be effective; however, they also face a lot of problems. In areas where range management plans are not implemented, beneficiaries believe that these plans cannot solve many of their problems. However, despite all these problems, they hope that the implementation of these plans will reduce the problems of rangelands, including rangeland ownership. Finally, according to the beneficiaries' responses and many interviews conducted, range management plans are evaluated positively from a socio-economic point of view.
javad motamedi; saeedeh toupchizadegan
Volume 22, Issue 4 , March 2015, , Pages 787-801
Abstract
This research was aimed to investigate the ecological capability of Hendovan rangelands, located in Khoy, for animal grazing using systemic module in Arc GIS 9.3. Initially, the map of environmental units was integrated with the maps of geology, soil, geomorphology, isohyet, isothermal and water resources, ...
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This research was aimed to investigate the ecological capability of Hendovan rangelands, located in Khoy, for animal grazing using systemic module in Arc GIS 9.3. Initially, the map of environmental units was integrated with the maps of geology, soil, geomorphology, isohyet, isothermal and water resources, and then the characteristics of each homogeneous units were extracted. Finally, given the ecological and environmental characteristics of each homogeneous unit and the criteria of evaluating rangeland capability for livestock grazing in semi-arid areas, the spatial plan for the management of rangelands was provided. According to the obtained results, 25 environmental units were detected at a scale of 1: 25,000 in the region of which large parts have low capability in terms of livestock grazing. In this regard, 8.21% of the land is considered as a protected ecosystem, mainly due to the geological structure especially sharp slope.The results of this study could be used to locate the range improvement programs as well as rangeland classification in terms of range management method. It is suggested that the suitability of each of the classes for livestock and wildlife grazing is determined considering the criteria affecting land suitability.
Esmaeil Sheidaye Karkaj; Javad Motamedi; Kayvan Karimizadeh
Volume 19, Issue 1 , June 2012, , Pages 32-44
Abstract
Suitability of rangeland application in watersheds for optimum use of land is of particular importance which is done with using systemic analysis method. In this method, ecological capability of land is determined for each common land uses. Therefore, in Khanghah Sorkh watershed, homogenous unites ...
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Suitability of rangeland application in watersheds for optimum use of land is of particular importance which is done with using systemic analysis method. In this method, ecological capability of land is determined for each common land uses. Therefore, in Khanghah Sorkh watershed, homogenous unites were determined after identifying the ecological resources and then land capability for rangeland use was assessed in whole watershed. According to the results, 18 ecological homogenous units were distinguished in a scale of 1:25000 as large parts of the lands were devoted to the land use classes of 2-3. Potential and actual ecological land capability of the study area was low for class 1 of rangeland use. In this regard, 24 percent of the land, in terms of geological structure, especially due to the sharp slope, was considered as ecosystem conservation and was offered for wildlife grazing. Meanwhile, 3.8 percent of the rangeland was determined as class1, 11 percent class2, and 19 percent class3. Accordingly, balanced range management and natural range management methods are respectively offered for 3.8 percent (76 ha) of rangelands in the watershed with class 1, and 54.6 percent (1091 ha) with classes 2 and 3. Range improvement practices or artificial range management method is also offered for 41.7 percent (833 ha) of the lands in order to convert inefficient dryland farming to cultivated rangelands.
Ahmad Ahmadian; Abbasali Sanadgol
Volume 14, Issue 1 , January 2007, , Pages 80-87
Abstract
Mountain areas are important sources of livestock forage production, water, energy, and biological diversity. Furthermore, they are sources of such key resources as minerals, forest products and agricultural products and of recreation. Mountain environments are susceptible to accelerated soil erosion, ...
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Mountain areas are important sources of livestock forage production, water, energy, and biological diversity. Furthermore, they are sources of such key resources as minerals, forest products and agricultural products and of recreation. Mountain environments are susceptible to accelerated soil erosion, landslide and rapid loss of habitat and genetic diversity. They are essential to the survival of the global ecosystem. In the West Azarbaijan province of Iran the existed livestock are about two times more than range capacity. Nowadays considering genetic erosion and plant cover retrogression, the study of balanced grazing as an approached strategy for proper management of natural resources is necessary and inevitable. For the study of livestock productions the weights of sheep under balance grazing and traditional grazing were compared with each other. In this study the vegetation type of Festuca ovina -Bromus tomentellus with fair condition, negative trend and grazing capacity of 0.7 animal units in three month was selected. This vegetation type with considering grazing capacity and range readiness was studied under balanced grazing from 1999 to 2003. The results indicated that the range condition promoted from fair condition to good condition, and the grazing capacity reached to 2.7 animal units per month. The average of plant cover and soil protection values reached from 24 and 54 percent to 33 and 64 percent respectively (significant difference at 5 % level of probability)