Vahideh Abdollahi; Ghasemali Dianati Tilaki; Jalil Farzadmehr; Hormoz Sohrabi
Volume 22, Issue 2 , August 2015, , Pages 330-343
Abstract
South Khorasan province with vast rangelands with an arid and semi-arid climate and specific species is one of the most suitable areas for camel breeding. Despite the importance of camel in the province, no research has been conducted on species selection by camel as well as its relation to chemical ...
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South Khorasan province with vast rangelands with an arid and semi-arid climate and specific species is one of the most suitable areas for camel breeding. Despite the importance of camel in the province, no research has been conducted on species selection by camel as well as its relation to chemical factors of plants. Therefore this research was aimed to investigate the relationship between palatability and nutritive value of range species in south of Birjand. For this purpose, the selection of range species by camel was investigated in three phenological stages of vegetative, flowering and seeding using chronometer. For each stage, the study was conducted during three days in the morning and evening. In this technique, each camel was followed for 30 minutes during the feeding. In addition, plant samples were collected for chemical analysis. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 15 software. Results indicated that there were no significant differences between preference value and chemical composition of species. The highest values of DMD, ME and CP as well as the lowest CF, ADF and NDF were recorded for Seidlitzia rosmarinus. According to the obtained results, the effects of chemical composition on species palatability varied from one species to another one. However, these effects depend on different factors including vegetation composition, available forage, species distribution, livestock taste and so forth.
Reza Yari; Hosein Azarnivand; Mohammad Ali Zare Chahouki; Jalil Farzadmehr; Firoozeh Moghimi Nejad
Volume 21, Issue 2 , August 2014, , Pages 247-259
Abstract
This research was aimed to evaluate the environmental factors affecting the distribution of vegetation in Sarchah Amari ranglands, Birjand. After field visits, five vegetation types were selected based on physiognomy method and soil and vegetation sampling was done in key area of each vegetation ...
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This research was aimed to evaluate the environmental factors affecting the distribution of vegetation in Sarchah Amari ranglands, Birjand. After field visits, five vegetation types were selected based on physiognomy method and soil and vegetation sampling was done in key area of each vegetation type along the transect and within square plots with systematic-random method. Depending on the type and distribution of plant species, the plot size was calculated to be 1.3 and 16 m2 and 45 plots were established in each vegetation type along transects. The percentage of vegetation cover was measured in all plots but soil sampling was done in the first and last plots of each transect at soil depths of 0-30 and 30-80 cm. Soil characteristics including soil texture, percentage of lime, saturated moisture, gypsum, pH, electrical conductivity, sodium, calcium, potassium, magnesium, chlorine and topographic features including slope, aspect and altitude above sea level were measured. Soil and vegetation data were analyzed by PCA and ANOVA. The results of PCA showed that among the environmental factors, EC, the percentage of sand, slope, gypsum, organic matter and the soluble sodium were the most important environmental factors affecting the distribution of vegetation. Overall, these factors could explain 89.73% of the vegetation distribution. The results of ordination (PCA) showed that 70.74% and 18.63% of vegetation distribution were explained by the first and second axes, respectively. The first axis variables included the percentage of sand, electrical conductivity (EC), percentage of gypsum, sodium and the organic matter of first depth. According to the algebraic sign of variables, the distribution of vegetation was positively correlated with the percentage of sand while it showed a negative correlation with electrical conductivity (EC), gypsum, sodium and organic matter in first depth. The second axis variables of the ordination diagram included the percentage of slope and organic matter of second depth and according to the algebraic sign of variables, the distribution of vegetation had a negative correlation with the percentage of slope and soil organic matter of second depth.
Reza Yari; Hosean Azarnivand; Mahammad ali Zare Chahouki; Jalil Farzadmehr
Volume 19, Issue 1 , June 2012, , Pages 95-107
Abstract
In this study, the relationship between species diversity and environmental factors in the pastures in the Sarchah Amari ranglands of Birjand was investigate. For this purpose, after classification of vegetation types through physiognomy method, sampling from vegetation and environmental factors were ...
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In this study, the relationship between species diversity and environmental factors in the pastures in the Sarchah Amari ranglands of Birjand was investigate. For this purpose, after classification of vegetation types through physiognomy method, sampling from vegetation and environmental factors were accomplished in the key area of each vegetation type by random-systematic sampling. Plot size and the number of plots were respectively determined by minimal area and statistical methods. Afterward, in the key area of each vegetation type, three 300 m transects were established and 15 plots with 20 m intervals were located along each transect. Sampling of vegetation was carried out in all plots while soil samples were taken at the beginning and end of each transect from two depths of 0-30 and 30-80 cm. The list of plant species and canopy cover percentage were recorded in each plot. Percentage of soil gravel, clay, silt, sand, moisture saturation, pH, lime, organic matter, gypsum, electrical conductivity and soluble salts (sodium, potassium, chloride and magnesium) and topographic features (slope, aspect and altitude) were measured. For data analysis, species richness and evenness were calculated using different diversity indices (Simpson and Shannon -Wiener index of heterogeneity, Kamargov and Smith- Wilson as the homogeneity index). To determine the most important factors influencing variations of species diversity, principal components analysis was used. The results showed that electrical conductivity, gypsum, organic matter, slope, and sand were the most effective factors on diversity in the study area.