Iranian Journal of Range and Desert Research

Current Issue

By Issue

By Author

Author Index

Keyword Index

About Journal

Aims and Scope

Editorial Board

Publication Ethics

Indexing and Abstracting

Related Links

FAQ

Peer Review Process

Journal Metrics

News

Author's guide

Essential forms

superior Reviewers

Guide for Reviewers

Reviewers

Evaluation of habitat health in three elevation classes of north Sabalan rangelands

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Associate Professor, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran Ardabil, Iran

2 Ph.D. Student in Range Management, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Iran

3 Former M.Sc. in Range Management, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran

Abstract

    The aim of this study was to assess the rangeland health of North Sabalan in three-elevation classes (less than 1500, 1500 to 2100, and 2100 to 2700 meters), which were the representative of rural, rural-nomad, and nomad rangelands, using the landscape function analysis (LFA) in Ardabil province. For sampling, three 50-meter transects were established in each elevation class according to the uniformity of the habitat and distribution of patches. Using the LFA framework, three characteristics including stability, infiltration and nutrient cycling of soil surface were determined using 11 indicators. Statistical analysis of data was conducted using the LFA method and instructions of Tongway and Hindley in Excel software. The soil stability index for vegetation life forms in the elevation class of 2100 to 2700 m was more than that of the other two elevation classes, with significant difference (P>0.05); however, there was no significant difference between the first and the second class .Comparison of the infiltration and nutrient cycling indices for vegetation life forms in the elevation class of 2100 to 2700 m was also more than those of the other two elevation classes with significant differences (P<0.05). The stability index in the third elevation class (72.35) and in the second class (48.75), the infiltration index in the third elevation class (73.31) and in the first elevation class (15.99), and the nutrient cycling index in the third elevation class (78.75) and in the first elevation class (10.12) had the highest and least values, respectively. Overall, the health condition of the third elevation class was better than the other two classes. By examining the functional characteristics of ecological patches, we can identify the vegetation indicators affecting rangeland health, and then conduct proper management to protect that ecosystem.

Keywords

References
-  Abedi, M., Arzani, H., Shahryari, E. and Tongway, D., 2006. Assessment of patches structure and function in arid and semi-arid Rangeland. Journal of Environmental Studies, 32(4): 117-126.
-  Adel, M. A., Mahmoud, I., Mohd Hasmadi, M. S., Alias, A. and Azani, M., 2014. Reviews of landscape function analysis (LFA) applications in rangeland ecosystems and its links with vegetation indices (VI’s), World Applied Sciences Journal, 32(5): 986-991.
-  Ahmadi, Z., Heshmati, Gh. and Abedi, M., 2008. Investigation on the effects of restoration practices on rangeland health indicators at Jahan-Nema Park of Golestan province, Iran. Final Report, 75p.
-  Akbarzadeh, M., 2005. Investigation of vegetation changes, characteristics and soil seed bank in grazed and ungrazed steppe and semi steppe rangelands. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Tehran, 153p.
-  Arzani, H., Abedi, M., Shahriari, A. and Ghorbani, M., 2006. Evaluation of soil surface parameters and performance characteristics of pasture grazing and tillage intensity (A case study of urease Taleghan. Iranian Journal of Range and Desert Research, 14(1): 68-79.
-  Bartley, R., Roth, C. H., Ludwig, J., Mc Jannet, D., Liedloff, A., Corfield, J., Hawdon, A. and Abbott. B., 2006. Runoff and erosion from Australia's tropical semi-arid rangelands: influence of ground cover for differing space and time scales. Hydrological Processes, 20: 3317-3333.
-  Bestelmeyer, B. T., Ward, J. P., Herrick, J. E. and Tugel, A. J., 2006. Fragmentation effects on soil aggregate stability in patchy arid grassland. Rangeland Ecology Management, 59: 406 - 415.
-  Bibak, N., 2014. Evaluation performance of the various management using Landscape Function Analysis (LFA) in rangeland of north Sabalan in Ardabil. M.Sc. Thesis, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran. 74p.
-  Ghorbani, A., Bibak, N., Amirkhani, M., Rahimi, Z., Akbarloo, M., Sefidi, K., Baderzadeh, M., Tymorzadeh, A. and Pournemati, A., 2015. Condition (health) assessment of low altitude habitat of north Sabalan. Journal of Plant Ecosystem Conservation, 6(1): 43-56.
-  Ghorbani A., Ahmadalei, V., Asghari A., 2014. Study the effect of distance from village on plant composition and diversity in rangeland of southeastern Sabalan, Iranian Journal of Rangeland, 8(2): 178-191.
-  Herrick, J. E., Brown, J. R., Jugel, A. J., Shaver, L. and Havsted, K. M., 2002. Application of soil quality for monitoring and management.10p.
-  Heshmati, Gh. A., Karimian, A. A., Karimi, P. and Amirkhani, M., 2006. Qualitative assessment of hilly range ecosystems potential at Inche-boron area of Golestan province, Iran. Journal of Agriculture and Natural Resource Science, 14(1): 174-182.
-  Heshmati, Gh., Amirkhani, M., Heidari, Gh. and Hosseini. S.A., 2007. Quantitative analysis of range ecosystem potential, Gomishan, Golestan province. Iranian Journal of Rangeland, 1(4): 103-115.
-  Holechek. J. L., Pieper, R. D. and Herbel, C. H., 2001. Range management, Principles and practices. Hall, Inc, New jersey, Pp: 27-35.
-  Karamati Jabehdar, S., Mirzaei Aghjeh Gheshlagh, F., Ghorbani, A., Fathi Achachlouei, B. and Navidshad, B., 2014. Study the effect of altitude and slope characteristics on minerals content in rangelands soil, plants and sheep milk (Case study: South and southeast Sabalan in Ardabil province). Iranian Journal of Rangeland, 7(4): 330-343.
-  Kargr, M., Jafarian, Z. and Ehsani, M., 2016. The Effect of Grazing on Soil Surface Indicators Using Landscape Function Analysis (LFA) method (Case study: Dona rangelands, Siah Bisheh Watershed). Journal of Range and Watershed Management, 69(3): 691-698.
-  Kavianpoor, A. H., Heshmati, Gh. A. and Hosseini, Sh., 2015. Investigation of changes in rangeland soil characteristics and its functional attributes affected by different grazing intensities (case study: mountainous rangelands of Nesho, Mazandaran province). Journal of Water and Soil, 25(4): 157-168.
-  Keykha, E. and Niknahad Gharmakher, H., 2017. Investigation on the validity of soil surface indicators assessment using LFA method (Case study: western rangelands of Gonbade Kavous city). Iranian Journal of Range and Desert Research, 24(3): 621-630. https://doi.org/10.22092/ijrdr.2017.113369
-  Li, X. J., Li, X. R., Song, W. M., Gao, Y. P., Zheng, J. G. and Jia, R. L., 2007. Effects of crust and shrub patches on runoff, sedimentation, and related nutrient (C, N) redistribution in the decertified steppe zone of the Tengger Desert, Northern China. Geomorphology, 96: 221–232.
-  Maestre, F. T. and Escudero, A., 2009. Is the patch size distribution of vegetation a suitable indicator of desertification processes, Ecology, 90(7): 1729–1735.
-  Mofidi Chelan, M. and Heshmati, G. H. A., 2016. Effect of different ecological patches on soil surface quality indices (case study: Sofi Chai catchment, Maragheh county), Natural Ecosystems of Iran, 7(3): 115-122.
-  Mohebbi, S., Dianati Tilaki, Gh. A. and Abedi, M., 2016. Applying landscape function analysis method in order to assess the ecological function of plant patches in rangeland management treatments (Pilot: Kojour Noshahr rangelands). Journal of Range and Watershed Management, 69(1): 187-199.
-  Pourali Kotyani, A. 2014. Range condition assessment using ground-based and remotely sensedmethods
on vilage framework. M.Sc. tThesis, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Iran, 109p.
-  Pournemati, A., Ghorbani, A., Sharifi, J., Mirzaei Aghche Gheshlagh, F., Amirkhani, M. and Ghodarzi, M., 2017. Study the effects of elevation, slope and aspect on life form forage production in Sabalan rangelands in Ardabil province. Iranian Journal of Range and Desert Research, 24(1): 91-100.
-  Read, Z. J., King, H. P., Tongway, D. J., Ogilvy, S., R. S. B. Greene, R. S. B. and Hand, G., 2016. Landscape function analysis to assess soil processes on farms following ecological restoration and changes in grazing management. European Journal of Soil Science, https://doi.org/10.1111/ejss.12352.
-  Tongway, D. J. and Ludwig, J., 2002. Desertification, reversing, in Ratten Lal. Marcel Dakker, New York. 343-345p.
-  Tongway, D. J. and Hindley, N. L., 2004. Landscape function analysis: a system for monitoring rangeland. African Journal of Range and Forage Science, 21(2): 109-113.
-  Tongway, D. J. and Hindly, N. L., 1995. Assessment of soil condition of tropical grasslands manual. CSRIO, Division of Wildlife and Ecology. Canberra. Australia, 72p.
-  Whitford, W. G., 2002. Ecology of desert systems. Academic Press, New York, 330p.
-  Yari, R., Tavili, A. and Zare, S., 2012. Investigation on soil surface indicators and rangeland functional attributes by Landscape Function Analysis (LFA), Case study: Sarchah Amari Birjand. Iranian Journal of Range and Desert Research, 18(4): 624-636.
-  Zucca, C., Pulido- Fernandez, M., Fava, F., Dessena, L. and Mulas, M., 2013. Effects of restoration actions on soil and landscape functions: Atriplex nummularia L. plantations in Ouled Dlim (Central Morocco). Soil and Tillage Research, 133: 101 -110.
 
 
Iranian Journal of Range and Desert Research
Volume 26, Issue 1
June 2019
Pages 1-17
Files
Share
How to cite
Statistics