An investigation on environmental factors affecting the distribution of plant communities in semi-arid rangelands of Bidokht

Farzadmehr, Jalil; Sangooni, Hamed; Rouhani, Hamid

doi:10.22092/ijrdr.2019.119323

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

¹ Assistant Professor, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Torbat Heydarieh, Iran

² Assistant Professor, Department of range and Watershed Management, Isfahan University of Technology, Iran

³ M.Sc. Student in Range Management, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Torbat Heydarieh, KHorasan Razavi, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22092/ijrdr.2019.119323

Abstract

In order to investigate the relationship between the distribution of plant communities and environmental factors in Bidokht area, a physiognomic-floristic approach was used. The appropriate area of sampling plot and sample size were determined by the minimal area method and statistical approach, respectively. In each plot, the number of plant species and their canopy cover were determined and vegetation mapping was conducted. In each of the plant communities, six soil profiles were drilled and soil samples (composite) were taken from 0 to 100 cm depth. After transferring to the laboratory, parameters of soil texture, lime, pH, electrical conductivity, organic matter, sulfate, calcium, phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen were measured. Information layers were also provided for altitude, slope and aspect of the study area. In order to determine the factors influencing vegetation distribution, PCA-ORD software was used to analyze the principal components (PCA). The results showed that there was a relationship between the factors studied and distribution of vegetation (four rangeland types). The results of principal component analysis showed that the most important environmental characteristics affecting distribution of plant communities in the region were clay, sand, organic matter, electrical conductivity, and potassium (PCA first axis).

Keywords

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An investigation on environmental factors affecting the distribution of plant communities in semi-arid rangelands of Bidokht

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References

Volume 26, Issue 1June 2019Pages 18-28

Volume 26, Issue 1
June 2019
Pages 18-28