Yaser Ghasemi Aryan; Hosein Azarnivand; Javad Motamedi; Firoozeh Moghiminejad
Volume 31, Issue 1 , June 2024, , Pages 15-27
Abstract
Background and objectivesRangeland management is the science and art of range management and administration, which requires technical and managerial foundations in decision-making and planning to protection, reclamation and sustainably use it, in parallel with each other and in accordance with the range ...
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Background and objectivesRangeland management is the science and art of range management and administration, which requires technical and managerial foundations in decision-making and planning to protection, reclamation and sustainably use it, in parallel with each other and in accordance with the range ecological conditions and beneficiary's socio-economic conditions, especially the pastoralists, should be considered. In the technical basics section, there are always several key projects, including planting, plowing, grazing management, Inter Seeding, Seeding, fertilizing, pitting, ripping, and contour furrowing, each of which has criteria and indicators. Has its own characteristics. Considering the vast area and variety of physiography and geomorphology of the rangelands, any tool that can help experts in selecting improvement and restoration projects by combining indicators can be useful. The purpose of this research is to use the geographic information system to locate suitable areas for range improvement and management projects in the Chahtalkh watershed. MethodologyFor this purpose, based on the range condition and range condition trend, a range method was developed for each plant types. For types with excellent to good condition, equilibrium method was recommended, and for types with moderate condition, natural method and consequently grazing systems were recommended. Artificial or improvement range management, were considered for types that were poor and very poor. In the next step, the homogeneous baseline maps were prepared by combining altitude, slope and direction maps. Subsequently, the homogeneous layer was combined with plant types layer and the final homogeneous units. Based on the rangeland condition and suitability yield of plant types, geological maps, soil characteristics, iso-therms, iso-rain and water resources, the characteristics of each homogeneous unit were extracted in GIS environment. Considering effective ecological and environmental criteria and indices to perform range improvement and management operations and to match the characteristics of each homogenous unit, the type of rangeland management and management operations in each homogenous unit was proposed and based on this, a round map was prepared. Finally, by superimposing the map of range improvement and management operations and customary systems, the range management model of the region was presented. ResultsAccording to the results, a wide range of rangelands have poor and very poor conditions that require artificial range management. The resulting management model showed that in 10.6% of rangelands, contour farro, in 8.3%, pitting and in 5.9%, ripping is recommended. In 29.3% of rangelands, grazing management and in 14.6% prevent livestock from entering (exclosure) are recommended. ConclusionThe model presented in the Chah Talkh watershed, which was obtained by combining the layers of RANGE condition and range condition trend, suitability yield of plant types, land use, soil texture and depth, elevation class, slope and direction, temperature and rainfall lines, and the map of customary systems, can play a significant role in provide a comprehensive and all-round management. The model enables quick and easy access to all ecological and environmental criteria and environmental parameters for effective range improvement and range management. In this regard, weighting indicators and using multi-variable decision-making tools can play an important role in more precisely choosing suitable places for range improvement and revitalization projects.
mohammad ekrami; rasool mahdavi; mazieh rezaei; hassan vagharfard; Jalal Barkhordari
Volume 27, Issue 3 , October 2020, , Pages 577-595
Abstract
Drought can reduce the sustainable production of natural ecosystems, including rangelands. The main purpose of this study was to expand the vulnerability of rangelands drought in the Pishkuh watershed in Yazd province. In the present study, geographical information systems ...
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Drought can reduce the sustainable production of natural ecosystems, including rangelands. The main purpose of this study was to expand the vulnerability of rangelands drought in the Pishkuh watershed in Yazd province. In the present study, geographical information systems and multi-criteria decision-making method (AHP) were used. In this regard, the parameters affecting the drought vulnerability of rangelands of the study area, including slope, slope direction, precipitation, soil texture, and evaporation were extracted and converted into information layers with the help of GIS. After weighing the layers in terms of importance in drought vulnerability in the framework of multi-criteria decision making (MCDM), the final combination and drought vulnerability map of the study area was prepared. Also, to control and measure the final map, field studies of the study area were used. Finally, a map of the dominant rangeland vegetation type was prepared and overlapped with the drought vulnerability map of the rangelands of the study area to identify the most resistant and vulnerable rangeland vegetation type. The results showed that the highest weight of the effective parameters in rangeland drought vulnerability was related to the precipitation with a value of 0.54, and the lowest weight was related to the slope with a value of 0.061. Based on the results, the eastern, southeastern, and southern regions of the Pishkuh watershed have the highest rate of rangelands drought vulnerability, and Ar.au-St.ba.Sc.or type is the most vulnerable vegetation type in the study area. It is recommended that more management resources and strategies be implemented in vulnerable rangelands to protect the soil and its vegetation.
mahsa ghazimoradi; Attaollah ebrahimi
Volume 27, Issue 2 , June 2020, , Pages 321-333
Abstract
Assessing the potential habitat and studying the geographical distribution of species is a key issue in many ecological studies, environmental protection, wildlife, and assessing the trend of changes at various scales. Therefore, in the present study, modeling of potential habitat of Ferula ovina in ...
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Assessing the potential habitat and studying the geographical distribution of species is a key issue in many ecological studies, environmental protection, wildlife, and assessing the trend of changes at various scales. Therefore, in the present study, modeling of potential habitat of Ferula ovina in the present and future years was performed using a generalized incremental model in Fereydunshahr region. The results showed that in 2030 and 2080, in exchange for all climatic factors remaining constant, except the average annual temperature, the probability of surviving the Ferula species has increased; in other words, the probability of its occurrence increases. The habitat area in the class where the species is most likely to be present is currently about 12,970 hectares in Fereydunshahr, Isfahan, which in 2030 and 2080 will be reached about 27157.3 and 31036.9 hectares, respectively. This indicates that the increase in the average annual temperature in 2030 and 2080 compared to now will have a positive effect on the presence of the species in the habitats studied. Because according to the results obtained in response curves, by increasing annual temperature, the probability of the presence of Ferula species increases. The results of this research can be used to improve and rehabilitate the vegetation of areas with similar conditions, which is one of the important achievements of this research.
Farhad Borna; Reza Tamartash; Mohammad Reza Tatian; Vahid Gholami
Volume 27, Issue 1 , April 2020, , Pages 98-111
Abstract
The Identification of the affecting factors for establishment of native vegetation in area can help to manage rangelands correctly. Desirable habitat will have a significant impact on the survival and reproduction of species. The development of science of statistics and geographic information systems ...
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The Identification of the affecting factors for establishment of native vegetation in area can help to manage rangelands correctly. Desirable habitat will have a significant impact on the survival and reproduction of species. The development of science of statistics and geographic information systems has been made to determine of the habitat prediction of plant species using modeling approaches. So, this study has been done by the purpose of prediction of habitat Artemisia aucheri map using Ecological Niche Factor Analysis in summer rangelands of Balade, Nour city in the Mazandaran province. For achieving to this purpose, the map of environmental variables (physiographic, soil and climate parameters), was prepared after sampling soil profiles and collecting climate variables information from the meteorological organization of Mazandaran province and physiographic maps, via GIS techniques in cell size of 10 x 10. Also; 30 sites were recorded as the presence of species with sampling classified – random. Ecological niche factor analysis counted as a profile model and it is one of the most frequently used techniques to generate species distribution map which uses species “presence-only” data. According to this results A.m.p, Aspect, Ec, TNV were used as influential environmental variables. Also, the evaluation of the model indicates a high accuracy model of the Ecological Niche Factor Analysis of the Artemisia aucheri by using Boyce index in the study area. Furthermore, the results of this study showed that Artemisia aucheri has sort of limited study area and tends to live in its own special habitat conditions.
Farhad Sardari; Hosein Arzani; Seyed Akbar Javadi
Volume 26, Issue 4 , December 2019, , Pages 1042-1054
Abstract
Land use capability for a type of range utilization with considering the sustainable land use is called range suitability, nowadays which is a priority in the science of range management. The objective of this study is evaluation of range suitability for sheep grazing through FAO method (Condition limitation) ...
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Land use capability for a type of range utilization with considering the sustainable land use is called range suitability, nowadays which is a priority in the science of range management. The objective of this study is evaluation of range suitability for sheep grazing through FAO method (Condition limitation) in Sarayan- South Khorasan province in 1990. For the purpose of this study, at first, the map of vegetation types was determined in each region and in each vegetation type, the status and tendency of rangeland and the amount of plant species were determined by cutting and weighing method and the suitability map was produced. Then, using EPM method, soil erosion susceptibility map was prepared. Also, to study the watershed suitability of the area, the drinking water resources of livestock area and sampling of each water source was done, the quantification of water was determined and water samples were transferred to the laboratory and TDS, EC and Mg + 2 parameters were measured for each sample and by integrating layers of quantity, quality and equal distant points from water sources, the water resource suitability map was adjusted. Finally, by finalizing production suitability maps, soil susceptibility to erosion and water, the final model of range suitability classification was prepared. The results indicated that there was no class of suitability (no vegetation type) (S1) in the region and the suitability classes S2, S3 and N (no grazing suitability) were 12.1%, 50.7% and 37%, respectively. Based on the research results, overgrazing, early grazing, formation susceptible to erosion, slope, allowable use limits and available forage, poor condition, negative trend of ranges and inappropriate distribution of water sources for livestock are the most considerable limiting factors in area for sheep grazing. In general, with regard to the obtained results using the livestock grazing suitability model in the study area, it is suggested to use this model as the basis for preparing rangeland plans with emphasis on removing the limiting factors as far as possible to improve rangeland status and Shepherds' income.
Hosein Gharedaghi; Bahram Peymani Fard
Volume 8, Issue 2 , September 2019, , Pages 27-60
Kazem Dashtakian; Mohammad Khosroshahi
Volume 11, Issue 4 , September 2019, , Pages 383-408
Masoud Masoudi; Kazem Alavipanah; Masoud Nejabat
Volume 8, Issue 4 , September 2019, , Pages 124-141
Mohammadtaghi Kashki; Reza Ghafourian; Mohammad Khosroshahi
Volume 12, Issue 1 , August 2019, , Pages 1-20
Mohammad Khosroshahi; Majid Hassani; Seyed Aziz Karami
Volume 10, Issue 1 , August 2019, , Pages 40-56
Morteza Abtahi; Mohammad Khosroshahi
Volume 12, Issue 3 , August 2019, , Pages 249-262
Ali Farazmand; Hossein Arzani; seyed Akbar Javadi; Abbasali Sanadgol
Volume 26, Issue 1 , June 2019, , Pages 187-200
Abstract
Over 50% of the country's surface is rangeland and livestock grazing is the main use of rangelands. Therefore, in the range of cities, rangelands should be considered not only in terms of livestock forage, but also for recreational aspects. The Gilizjand Watershed with an area of 16210.44 ...
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Over 50% of the country's surface is rangeland and livestock grazing is the main use of rangelands. Therefore, in the range of cities, rangelands should be considered not only in terms of livestock forage, but also for recreational aspects. The Gilizjand Watershed with an area of 16210.44 hectares is located in northern Firouzkooh city of Tehran province. According to the Demarton modified method, it has a cool semi-arid climate. This research was conducted on the basis of the FAO guidelines (1991), and GIS on a scale of 1: 20000, the limiting factor method was used. At first, the existing condition of the rangelands was studied. Then, factors affecting tourism including environmental and ecological factors (climate, elevation, slope, attractions of the area, water resources, and soil) and infrastructure factors (access to the area and distance to service centers and welfare centers) were studied. Eventually, the suitability of the rangelands of the region was determined for tourism and recreation.The results showed that 1% of the area was in the good suitability class (S1), 9.4% in the middle suitability class (S2), 29.4% in the poor suitability class (S3) and 60.2% in the non suitable class (N).The results also showed that the slope percentage, water content, distance from human-made attractions and plant composition were limiting factors for tourism in the Gilizjand watershed.
Hosein Behzadi; Saeed Mohtashamnia; Hosein Gharedaghi
Volume 25, Issue 4 , February 2019, , Pages 817-828
Abstract
Bamu National Park, has witnessed an annual fire and its repetition for many years. Considering the importance of preserving the park and its proximity to Shiraz refinery, fire hazard zoning was conducted using geographical information system (GIS) and Analytic hierarchy process (AHP). With regards to ...
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Bamu National Park, has witnessed an annual fire and its repetition for many years. Considering the importance of preserving the park and its proximity to Shiraz refinery, fire hazard zoning was conducted using geographical information system (GIS) and Analytic hierarchy process (AHP). With regards to the four factors of physiography (elevation, slope, direction), climate (temperature and precipitation), human factors (tourism, industrial areas, military regions, residential areas and roads) and fuels (vegetation type and density) and weighting according to digital layers, expert opinions, questionnaire filling and integration of manufacturing layers, the final mapping of fire zoning classified into 0-20 (no risk), 20-40 (low risk), 40-60 (medium risk), 60-80 (risky) and 80-100 (high risk). The results showed that 23.3% (14263 hectares) and 20.25% (2.84) of the area were located in the dangerous and very dangerous zones, respectively. Evaluating the provided model accuracy showed that 76.60% of the previously fired areas located in dangerous and very dangerous zones, and this subject shows the adaptation of the reality with the prepared maps. With a logical connection between the risk areas and the real places, the success of this method can be proved. So, it is suggested to develop a particular crisis management plan and increase the equipments and human resources for preventing fire and its spread in dangerous and very dangerous zones.
Abdolreza danaie; Damon razmjouiee; Shahram yousefi; Somayeh zolfaghari
Volume 24, Issue 2 , July 2017, , Pages 455-463
Abstract
This research was conducted in 2015 in Hallaf (Khozestan province), to locate the potential habitat of Calligonum comosum with the use of GIS and analytic hierarchy. For this purpose, at first, the habitat of the study species was determined in the region and the current position of establishment was ...
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This research was conducted in 2015 in Hallaf (Khozestan province), to locate the potential habitat of Calligonum comosum with the use of GIS and analytic hierarchy. For this purpose, at first, the habitat of the study species was determined in the region and the current position of establishment was determined as the natural environment. Accordingly, the ecological needs of Calligonum were identified and recorded in these areas by GPS. To determine the species soil needs, 30 soil samples were taken from 0-50 cm depth. Soil texture, acidity (pH), and electrical conductivity of soil samples were measured. In the next step, layers of climate, physiographic and soil characteristics maps were prepared and standardized with the help of digital data in GIS. Then by using ARC GIS10 software, all the layers were weighted by AHP method. Eventually, by integrating thelayers in Arc GIS and weighted hierarchical model, the layer of potential habitat for the study species was obtained and presented on the map of the region. On the basis of potential habitat, the resulting map was divided into five classes as follows: very high suitability (38% with an area of 3775 hectares), high suitability (41% with an area of 4149 hectares), suitable (8.6% with an area of 798 hectares), low suitability (11% with an area of 1104 hectares), and very poor suitability (1.4% with an area of 148 hectares).
seyed Skandar seyhye golsefidi; somayeh hoseini; Bentolhoda yazdan bakhsh
Volume 23, Issue 3 , January 2017, , Pages 430-441
Abstract
This study was aimed to determine the priority areas for desert tourism in Isfahan province. According to the study components, the research type was applied and developmental and the research method was descriptive and survey. In this study, rating was given to the attractions of the desert and ...
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This study was aimed to determine the priority areas for desert tourism in Isfahan province. According to the study components, the research type was applied and developmental and the research method was descriptive and survey. In this study, rating was given to the attractions of the desert and sand dunes based on performance levels (national, regional, international), privileges (infantry, cavalry), hotels, and climate. Desert tourism potential in Isfahan province is reported for Maranjab desert in Natanz and Aran and Bidgol, Mesr desert in Khoor, Siahkooh, Rigjen and a part of the Kavir desert in Naein, Daghsorkh in Ardestan, and Varzaneh sand dunes in Isfahan. The results showed that based on performance levels, privileges, hotels, and climate, Abbas Abad and Matin Abad villages and the cities of Islamabad, Khalidabad and Badrod in Natanz, Mesr and Farahzad vilages in Khor and Hossein Abad and Abuzeydabad villages in Aran Bidgol were the best areas for desert tourism development. Choupanan village in Nain, Amir Abad and Hossein Abad villages in Ardestan and Varzaneh in Isfahan were in the next place for desert tourism development, respectively
Kazem Dashtakian; Hamidreza Dashtakian; Mohammad Abolghasemi
Volume 22, Issue 2 , August 2015, , Pages 344-355
Abstract
The source of sandy dunes has been the main question in desert regions. Several theories have been already presented about this question around the world. In addition, several methods have been already invented and applied to find the source of sandy dunes. In this research, the relationship between ...
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The source of sandy dunes has been the main question in desert regions. Several theories have been already presented about this question around the world. In addition, several methods have been already invented and applied to find the source of sandy dunes. In this research, the relationship between playa and sandy area in Yazd province was studied using GIS. At first, the maps of sand dunes and playa in the province as well as neighboring areas were produced. Then, the distance and direction of all sandy polygons to the nearest playa was calculated. Meanwhile, the geographic center of sandy polygons and playa polygons were identified. According to the results, around 60% of sandy polygons had a distance less than 10 kilometers to the playa, and their average distance to the nearest playa was calculated to be 12745 meter. In more than 79% of sandy dunes, the nearest playa was located in the North West. The average angle of playas to the sandy dunes was 332 degree (N), matching with the main windroses and sandroses of province. Therefore, if all sandy dunes and playas are converted to one place, we will have one sandy dune with an average area of 4717 hectares as well as a playa with an average area of 220506 hectares in the northwest of sand dune. Eventually, according to the prevailing wind direction, the hypothesis of the role of playas as the main source of sand dunes in the Yazd province is reinforced.
Sedighe Zarekia; Parvaneh Ashouri; Mohammad Fayaz; Mahmood Goudarzi; Niloofar Zare
Volume 21, Issue 4 , March 2015, , Pages 676-684
Abstract
Livestock is one of the components of rangeland ecosystems. Different grazing behaviors would be observed according to the climatic conditions, the type of livestock and vegetation. Knowledge of livestock grazing behavior on rangelands could be useful in the planning and utilization of rangelands. For ...
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Livestock is one of the components of rangeland ecosystems. Different grazing behaviors would be observed according to the climatic conditions, the type of livestock and vegetation. Knowledge of livestock grazing behavior on rangelands could be useful in the planning and utilization of rangelands. For this purpose, in this study, the grazing behavior of sheep in the steppe rangeland of Saveh was investigated. Initially, a three-year-old ewe was selected, then, using a geographic positioning system (GPS), the path of movement, the time of arrival and departure of livestock, time of rest and movement speed were recorded. Data were entered into the GIS and statistically analyzed using two-way analysis of variance. Results showed that, except for the livestock average speed, there was no significant difference among the measured parameters of grazing behavior during the four years of study. The time spent for movement and rest in different months of the grazing seasonshowed significant differences, while the length of the grazing path had no significant difference during different months. The highest time spent for movement and rest was attributed to May, although the grazing distance in May was not significantly different from other months, indicating the presence of more and better forage for grazing in this month. The lowest average speed of livestock was recorded in May. The most covered distance by sheep occurred in slope gradient ranging from 0 to 8% with dominant cover of Artemisia sieberi and Salsola laricina. Generally, it could be concluded that livestock grazing behavior and rangeland management could be better evaluated using GPS technology and GIS.
Ali Shahbazi; Farhad Aghajanlou; Fatemeh Einlou; Mamak Ahmadian
Volume 21, Issue 4 , March 2015, , Pages 718-730
Abstract
Determining land capability based on land suitability, climatic characteristics, and soil physical and chemical properties is considered as a method of achieving sustainable management. In this study, FAO model was used to determine land capability. To describe the spatial results, Geographical Information ...
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Determining land capability based on land suitability, climatic characteristics, and soil physical and chemical properties is considered as a method of achieving sustainable management. In this study, FAO model was used to determine land capability. To describe the spatial results, Geographical Information System (GIS) was used. Spatial data, as maps, and descriptive data, as database table, were entered into the GIS environment. The results of current land suitability model for irrigated agriculture and garden land use showed that 64.5% was in N2 class, 17.86% in N1 class, 17% in S3 class and 0.64% in NR class. For dry farming land use, 64.5% was in N2 class, 18.86% in S3 class, 17% in S2 class, and 0.64% in NR class. For rangeland use, 32% was in S3 class, 32.5% in N1 class, and 35.5% in NR class. For forest land use, 64.5% was in N1 class and 35.5% in NR class. From overlaying the current land use map with the current land suitability map, it was found that only 25.5 % of irrigated agriculture land use, 82 % of dry farming land use and 30.3% of rangeland use were consistent with their land suitability map, being exploited properly
naser baghestani; mohamad taghi zare; kazem dashtakian; mohamadreza ahmadi
Volume 22, Issue 4 , March 2015, , Pages 778-786
Abstract
Proper distribution of water resources in rangelands causes uniform grazing and optimal use of rangeland. Knowledge of the present status of water resources in rangeland is important to achieve this goal. For this purpose, the drinking water resources for livestock in the steppe rangelands of Nodoushan, ...
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Proper distribution of water resources in rangelands causes uniform grazing and optimal use of rangeland. Knowledge of the present status of water resources in rangeland is important to achieve this goal. For this purpose, the drinking water resources for livestock in the steppe rangelands of Nodoushan, Yazd Province with an area of 114836 hectares were studied in 2013. During the field visits, the location of water resources was determined with GPS device. The base maps of available wells-springs and water reservoirs were produced in ArcGIS 9.3 software using these data. Then, the maps of grazing territory within the wells-springs and water reservoirs were produced. The areas which were not suitable for grazing, due to the water resources limitations, were determined by matching these two maps. According to the results, the area of available springs-wells and water reservoirs was calculated to be 75692 ha and 65259 ha, respectively. However, an area equal to 16703 ha of the study area is located far from water resources that is not currently available for grazing. In the study area, 33 water reserviors have been already established and 13 others are still needed to cover the whole are of rangeland for livestock grazing. Whereas, by a proper site selection, 20 water reserviors would be enough to cover the whole area and it should be taken into account for the development of water resources in rangelands.
masoud masoudi; maryam vahedi; alireza nematollahi; seyed rashid fallah shamsi
Volume 22, Issue 4 , March 2015, , Pages 802-820
Abstract
This research was aimed to present a new model to determine the areas with higher degradation risk through considering various indicators of land degradation and desertification aspects or criteria, namely, natural, human and trend of degradation. For this purpose, two areas were selected in the north ...
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This research was aimed to present a new model to determine the areas with higher degradation risk through considering various indicators of land degradation and desertification aspects or criteria, namely, natural, human and trend of degradation. For this purpose, two areas were selected in the north (Sepidan) and south of the province (Lamerd). These two areas were selected because of their differences in climatic conditions. The final land degradation risk map was produced by overlaying all three natural, human and trend of degradation layers in comparison with the current status of degradation in GIS. The areas under risk were classified into subclasses with different probability level to show a statistical picture of risk in future. In this study, the percentage of risk probability was evaluated according to the trend and potential of degradation. The results showed that the dominant risk class in Sepidan was moderate, in Lamerd the dominant risk class of natural factors was moderate, and in other cases, the dominant risk class was low or no risk. In addition, the comparison of risk assessment in both areas based on the weighted average indicates that the degradation risk of human factors, current degradation trend and finally land degradation risk in Sepidan is sever as compared with Lamerd. In general, degradation risk in Sepidan with a semi humid to humid climate condition is more sever than that of Lamerd with a dry climate.
Yaser Ghasemi Arian; Hosein Azarnivand; Firoozeh Moghimi Nejad; Mohammad Jafary; Esmaiel Filekesh
Volume 21, Issue 3 , December 2014, , Pages 394-408
Abstract
This research was aimed to determine the rangeland suitability for sheep grazing in Chahtalkh-Sabzevar rangelands using FAO (1990) method. Initially, the DGN maps, including six sheets of 1:25000, topographic map of 1:50000, and geological map of 1:100000 of the study area were prepared and the vegetation ...
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This research was aimed to determine the rangeland suitability for sheep grazing in Chahtalkh-Sabzevar rangelands using FAO (1990) method. Initially, the DGN maps, including six sheets of 1:25000, topographic map of 1:50000, and geological map of 1:100000 of the study area were prepared and the vegetation types were detected. In each vegetation type, range condition, range trend and production were determined to produce the production suitability map. Then, the soil erosion sensitivity map was prepared using EPM method. To study the suitability of water, water sampling was done and the quantity of water was determined. Water samples were transferred to the laboratory to measure TDS, EC and Mg+2 for each sample. Finally, the suitability map of water resources was produced by combining the layers (provided for four slopes including 0-10%, 10-30%, 30-60% and >60%). The final model of rangeland suitability was prepared by overlaying the maps of production suitability, soil susceptibility to erosion and water. According to the obtained results, there is no suitability S1 class in the region and 23.7%, 18.92%, and 56.9% of the study area have S2, S3, and N suitability classes, respectively. Generally, it can be said that the conversion of rangeland to dryland, overgrazing and early grazing, formations susceptible to erosion, low vegetation cover, salinity, and improper distribution of drinking water sources for livestock are considered as the most important limiting factors for sheep grazing.
Ali Mohammad Asaadi; Ghorban Ali Asadi; Asghar Khoshnoud Yazdi
Volume 21, Issue 2 , August 2014, , Pages 208-220
Abstract
This research was aimed to investigate the ecological capability of Hesare Hosseini Watershed to determine optimum land uses and improve the current environmental management. Ecological and socio-economic characteristics were first studied and mapped. These maps were digitized in Arc/Info software and ...
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This research was aimed to investigate the ecological capability of Hesare Hosseini Watershed to determine optimum land uses and improve the current environmental management. Ecological and socio-economic characteristics were first studied and mapped. These maps were digitized in Arc/Info software and then were entered to the Arcview software with other data for creating database. Digital Elevation Model (DEM) was produced in Arcview using topographic map. Based on that, the maps of slope, aspect and elevation were produced. Then, the environmental units map was prepared by overlying the maps of elevation, slope, aspect, soil types and vegetation cover in Arcview. The land capability for different land uses was determined by Iranian ecological model using Structured Query Language (SQL) in Arcview. According to the obtained results, this region has no first and second-class capability for irrigation farming. Overall, 54.51% of the watershed area is suitable for range management, 12.76% for dry farming, 31.1% for conservation and 1.63% for irrigated farming.
Fazel Amiri; Hosein Arzani
Volume 19, Issue 1 , June 2012, , Pages 159-177
Abstract
Rangeland evaluation is defined as identification and assessmnet of actual and potential production in order tohave a sustainable utilization ofthisvaluable resource. One of the important indirect applications in multiple use of rangelands is Apiculture. In this study, site priority for apiculture was ...
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Rangeland evaluation is defined as identification and assessmnet of actual and potential production in order tohave a sustainable utilization ofthisvaluable resource. One of the important indirect applications in multiple use of rangelands is Apiculture. In this study, site priority for apiculture was investigated in rangelands of Ghareh Aghach at Semirom in order to have a sustainable utilization of these rangelands. Suitability model for apiculture was formed from integration of three criterias of vegetation cover, environmental factors and water resources availability using FAO method (1991) and Geographic Information System. Afterward, priority of the vegetation types for apiculture was determined through AHP method. Samples were randomly collected along threetransects of two hundred meters longin each vegetation type. Presence and absence, cover percentage, diversity and vegetation composition of pollen and nectar plants were measured using 1m2 quadrates. To determine the priority of the factors, question sheets were used. The results of priority indicated that apiculture suitability of the vegetation types was different. According to the results, index weight of vegetation cover factor (0.687) was more than that of environmental factors(0.244) and water resource availability (0.069). As.ad-Ag.tr-Da.mu and Co.ba-As.sp vegetation types with a weight of 0.092 showed the highest priority in terms of apiculturalwhileAg.tr with a weight of 0.028 had the lowest priority among vegetation types. Generally, the results of apiculture model showed that 29% of land units (vegetation type) was classified as high suitable (S1), 59% with moderate suitability (S2), 6% with low suitability (S3) and 6% non suitable for apiculture. Considering the suitability and priority areas for apiculture is very important in improvement of range condition.
Esmaeil Alizadeh; Hossein Arzani; Hossein Azarnivand; Abdol reza Mohajeri; Seyed Hassan Kaboli
Volume 18, Issue 3 , September 2011, , Pages 353-371
Abstract
Range suitability determination is considered as a step toward development and sustainable utilization of natural resources with a great significance in the world of today. Since the goats are the majority of the livestock populations using the country's rangelands after the sheep, grazing traits, adaptation ...
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Range suitability determination is considered as a step toward development and sustainable utilization of natural resources with a great significance in the world of today. Since the goats are the majority of the livestock populations using the country's rangelands after the sheep, grazing traits, adaptation and capabilities of goats were aplied in range suitability classification in the present study. The research was carried out in Ghareaghach river watershed located north-east of Semirom in Isfahan province.The framework of this research was based on F.A.O method (1991) for land evaluation. Physical factors, vegetation characteristics and water resources were considered to create three sub models including yield, water resources and soil erodibility. The final model of the range suitability in terms of range production showed that the studied rangelands were classified in three classes as moderate suitability (S2) for 2%, low suitability (S3) for 62.2% and not suitable (N) for 23.6% of the rangeland's area and 14.3% of the remaining lands was classified as non-rangelands. Among all studied land components, vegetation and forage production were identified as the first priorities to decrease land suitability for goats. Factors of distance from water sources and high slope (more than 75%) constituted the second priority for grazing suitability.
Akbar Gandomkar Ghalhary; Mohammad Khosroshahi; Gholam reza Godarzi; Hojat ... ZAhedi pur; Esmaeil Azez abadi
Volume 17, Issue 1 , September 2010, , Pages 149-165
Abstract
Desert is a location in which life of plant and animal is hardly possible. In desert formation, different parameters including: climate, geology, vegetation, pedology, hydrology and geomorphology are special and their interaction to each other plays an important role. For desert area vegetation ...
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Desert is a location in which life of plant and animal is hardly possible. In desert formation, different parameters including: climate, geology, vegetation, pedology, hydrology and geomorphology are special and their interaction to each other plays an important role. For desert area vegetation and their boundaries, detailed investigation on such parameters and their interaction to each other is necessary. In this research, desert area of Markazi province was studied from the view point of vegetation. With determination of desert area boundary and gathering detailed data on such an area, the combating desertification and proper use and planning of desert area is possible. For this reason, first of all, the dominant vegetation types were determined and digitized using GIS with Ilwis academic program software. Then the dominant vegetation types were divided to different groups. The map of desert area and their boundaries were determined with taking into consideration the existing data and information and vegetation types characteristics. The result shows that the total desert vegetation types are 276074 ha with 21 special desert vegetation types and their potential capacity were determined. The result also show that the widest desert vegetation types are Hultemia persica – Scariola orientalis with 77833.8 ha which are distributed in Saveh, Arak, Delijan and Khomain townships and smallest desert vegetation type is Nitraria schoberri with 299.5 ha in marginal salty land of Mayghan playa. Finaly, vegetation map with boundaries of 21 desert vegetation types produced for this study area. ation types