Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

• Fazel Amiri ¹
• Hossein Arzani ²

¹ Assistant Professor, Department of Range Management, Islamic Azad University, Busheher Branch, Busheher, Iran

² Professor, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Theran, Karaj, Iran

Abstract

Range inventory is the recognition and evaluation of potential and actual production in order to take optimal utilization of this valuable natural resource. In this research, range suitability model for common use was determined by FAO (1991) and GIS with consideration of factors that affect the range suitability for grazing. Sampling was performed in vegetation types randomly through the establishment of three transects of 200 m. Cover percentage and production were measured in quadrates of 1m². Three criteria of available forage, water resources and erosion sensitivity were integrated to classify range lands suitability for livestock grazing. According to the results, there was no class of S₁, however 694.36 hectares (9.7%) of rangeland was classified as class S₂ and 5439.35 hectares (75.9%) was classified as class S₃ with high limitation. In addition, 1025.81 hectares (14.3%) was not suitable for common grazing (class N). Most important limiting factors in soil erosion models were types of land use and land cover. Generally, there was no serious problem in terms of water resources in the study area. Only, in some parts of the watershed high distances from watering point and slope caused reduction in grazing suitability. Among rangeland characteristics cover and production were most important limiting factors in the study area.

Keywords

• Range suitability model
• common use
• FAO
• livestock grazing and GIS