Document Type : Research Paper

Author

baft isalamic azad university

Abstract

Considering the creation of suitable microsites for rangeland species under the canopy of tree species in arid regions, this research was conducted to determine the spatial relationship between tree species in Prosopis sites and a variety of range species. The study was conducted on the Jazmourian margin of Kerman province. After selecting the area, 34 sites of 2000 m-square were sampled. Chi-square test and Dice and Jaccard indices were used to analyze the data. The results showed that tree species in the mixed Prosopis stands could change the structure of understory rangeland species. In this regard, Prosopis cineraria and Prosopis farcta showed significant positive effects on Capparis spinosa and Aeluropus littoralis (with a correlation coefficient of 0.61 and 0.22), and Alhagi graecorum (with a correlation coefficient of 0.42), respectively, while Prosopis juliflora had negative effects on the presence of Desmostachya bipinnata. As Tamarix stricta becomes dominant, the presence of non palatable species such as Stipa capensis and Desmostachya bipinnata is significantly highlighted, and the presence of palatable species like Aeluropus littoralis reaches zero. According to the results, Prosopis cineraria is recommended to be maintained as a domininat nursing species in the mixed stands to preserve valuable medicinal and forage species.
 

Keywords

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