Somayeh Dehdari; Hosein Arzani; Hamid Movahed; Mohammad ali Zare Chahouki; Hosein shabanali Fomi
Volume 21, Issue 3 , December 2014, Pages 383-393
Abstract
This research was aimed to prioritize the factors affecting rangeland utilization as well as comparing 60 rangelands with/without Range Management Plan (RMP) using application of Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). Initially, the criteria for rangeland utilization were prioritized using Delphi ...
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This research was aimed to prioritize the factors affecting rangeland utilization as well as comparing 60 rangelands with/without Range Management Plan (RMP) using application of Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). Initially, the criteria for rangeland utilization were prioritized using Delphi method and Expert Choice software. Then, 60 rangelands (with/without RMP) were compared to each other. Document and field research methods were used to collect the data. For this purpose, a questionnaire was designed and in the field studies, direct sampling was conducted to calculate the rangeland production, condition, and trend while completing the questionnaires in the statistical population. According to the results, significant differences were found for rangeland production, trend, condition, and early grazing in comparison of rangelands with RMP and those with no RMP (p<0.01). In addition, significant differences were found for the number of available livestock to the allowed number of livestock, encroachment into the rangeland, contention and conflict among rangeland beneficiaries and the beneficiaries' attitude towards range management plan (RMP) in the studied rangelands (p<0.05).
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.
Maryam Dadgar; Shahla Mahmoudi; Mohammad Hosein Mahdian; Mohammad Hosein Masih Abadi; Reza Sokooti Oskouie
Volume 21, Issue 3 , December 2014, Pages 409-415
Abstract
In our country, regardless of a limited area, soil organic carbon is very low in most areas of production such as agriculture and rangeland. This fact suggests that slight change in the amount of organic carbon can have high impact on soil properties and thus its quality in arid and semi-arid conditions. ...
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In our country, regardless of a limited area, soil organic carbon is very low in most areas of production such as agriculture and rangeland. This fact suggests that slight change in the amount of organic carbon can have high impact on soil properties and thus its quality in arid and semi-arid conditions. Determination of soil organic carbon (SOC) is of great importance because of its role in physical, chemical and biological properties. This research was aimed to estimate soil organic carbon using pedotransfer functions and the independent variables of soil physical and chemical properties in Damavand Rangelands. For this purpose, 60 soil samples were taken systematically at a soil depth of 0-30 cm in Damavand rangelands and soil organic carbon, pH, lime, nitrogen, sand, silt and clay were determined. Results showed that the average percentage of organic carbon was 0.49 percent and the minimum and maximum were 0.1% and 0.92%, respectively with a normal distribution. According to the obtained results, soil organic carbon was significantly positively correlated with clay and then with the nitrogen. One of the methods used to estimate soil organic carbon is a multivariate linear regression model where the dependent variables (clay, nitrogen, sand, silt, soil pH, bulk density and the percentage of gravel) are used, having a high correlation coefficient with organic carbon.
Hosein Tavakoli; Hosein Yoshti; Alireza Khodashenas
Volume 21, Issue 3 , December 2014, Pages 416-423
Abstract
Study on plant vegetation changes has many applications for range improvement and range management. Plant vegetation percentage, production and composition were studied over four years in a17-year exclusion area and a grazing area in Golestan Research Station in Mashhad City. Soil organic matter content ...
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Study on plant vegetation changes has many applications for range improvement and range management. Plant vegetation percentage, production and composition were studied over four years in a17-year exclusion area and a grazing area in Golestan Research Station in Mashhad City. Soil organic matter content of both areas was measured at 0-30 cm soil depth. Plant composition was determined by identifying the perennial species. Vegetation percentage and plant production were estimated using quadrate and clipping method, respectively. In general, plant vegetation percentage and plant production were higher in exclusion area as compared with grazing area; however, this increase was not statistically significant in some years. Plant vegetation composition also showed some differences, but the changes seemed to be low during the exclusion period. Organic matter percentage was calculated to be 0.57 and 0.54 for exclusion and grazing areas, respectively. In conclusion, in the areas with similar climatic condition, range exclusion will not result in large changes in plant composition and vegetation percentage for fodder production or creating green space.
Seyed ali Hoseini; Mohammad Fayaz
Volume 21, Issue 3 , December 2014, Pages 424-434
Abstract
Determining the preference value of range plant species and its variation during the grazing season is one of the factors affecting the grazing capacity of rangeland. This study was conducted in semi steppe rangelands of Saraliabad Gorgan, located 45 km far from south Gorgan. Saraliabad rangelands have ...
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Determining the preference value of range plant species and its variation during the grazing season is one of the factors affecting the grazing capacity of rangeland. This study was conducted in semi steppe rangelands of Saraliabad Gorgan, located 45 km far from south Gorgan. Saraliabad rangelands have important role because of providing required forage especially at the times that all plain lands of the province are under planting of agricultural products. This research was aimed to determine the preference value of rangeland species for four years and during the three months of livestock presence on rangeland through estimating the consumption rate. Data were analyzed by SPSS software and mean comparison was performed by Duncan's Multiple Range Test. Results showed that there were significant differences between the preference index of species, years and months (P<0.01). According to the consumption percentage, the preference value of the most species was medium (class II), except Cousinia glaucopsis, classified as a non-palatable species (class III). The highest preference value was recorded for Medicago lupulina, Achillea millefolium, Galium verum and Medicago sativa, respectively and the lowest was obtained for Cousinia glaucopsis.
Hamidreza Saeedi Geraghani; Ghodratollah Heydari; Hosein Barani; Seyed Zakaria Alavi
Volume 21, Issue 3 , December 2014, Pages 435-446
Abstract
Holistic ecosystem approach in range management requires knowledge on all ecosystem components and their relationships. This is essential for sustainable management and proper planning in rangelands. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of grazing management indices on range condition ...
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Holistic ecosystem approach in range management requires knowledge on all ecosystem components and their relationships. This is essential for sustainable management and proper planning in rangelands. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of grazing management indices on range condition and forage production under three methods of utilization including collective property, private property and council property. The study was carried out in Damavand summer rangeland in Amol county, Mazandaran province. In this regard, 15 ranches were selected and according to the research objectives and hypotheses, 88 questionnaires were completed through direct interviews with exploiters in the region. Range condition was determined using four-factor method and forage production was estimated by clipping method. The results of this study indicated that there was a significant positive correlation between the eight indicators of grazing management and range condition and forage production at 1% level of significance. In addition, the results of correlation analysis between individual items or indicators of grazing management and range condition showed that there was no significant correlation between three items (including considering the proper time of beginning and ending of grazing in rangeland and the number of allowable livestock by ranchers) and range condition in different ranches. However, other indicators of grazing management showed significant correlation with range condition and the highest correlation was obtained for exclosure program.
Mohsen Sherafatmandrad; Gholamali Heshmati; Mohammadrahim Forouzeh; Hosein Badripour
Volume 21, Issue 3 , December 2014, Pages 447-454
Abstract
Measurements of production and utilization of key range plant species are of utmost important tools for making range management decisions specially for stocking rate determination. A study was conducted to examine the relationships of production and utilization of Agropyron cristatum and Stipa barbata, ...
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Measurements of production and utilization of key range plant species are of utmost important tools for making range management decisions specially for stocking rate determination. A study was conducted to examine the relationships of production and utilization of Agropyron cristatum and Stipa barbata, as key grasses in Chaharbagh region of Golestan province, with some dimensional parameters. For this purpose, plants height, basal diameter and canopy diameter and their dry weights were measured. Primarily, correlation matrices and Pearson correlation coefficient were used to assess the relationships of these three dimensional variables with production. The three variables were then evaluated for predicting production by using best subset and stepwise regression approaches. Utilization was assessed based on percentage of height removed in relation to percentage weight removed. Results showed that basal and canopy diameters could usefully predict the production of the two grasses. Finally, because of subjectivity of canopy diameter measurements and its weak role in explaining production variations, just basal diameter was considered in models, having linear relationship with production and the coefficient of determinations were calculated to be 72.4 and 71 for A. cristatum and S. barbata, respectively. Therefore, dimension analysis is an appropriate approach to estimate the production and utilization of range key grasses.
Mojtaba Eidi; Ataollah Ebrahimi; Esmaiel Asadi; Hormoz Sohrabi; Hamzehali Shirmardi
Volume 21, Issue 3 , December 2014, Pages 455-465
Abstract
In this study, the distance methods of density measurementwere compared for four plant species in terms of accuracy, time, and efficiency of the random distribution patterns in Karsanak area, located in the eastern part of Shahrekord in Chaharmahal-va-Bakhtiary province. The study area with 32000m2(160*200) ...
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In this study, the distance methods of density measurementwere compared for four plant species in terms of accuracy, time, and efficiency of the random distribution patterns in Karsanak area, located in the eastern part of Shahrekord in Chaharmahal-va-Bakhtiary province. The study area with 32000m2(160*200) was divided into eight sections of 4000 m2. The total number of each species was counted in each section and considered as the basis for the simulation. Then, eight sections with 4000m2 area were simulated in Stochastic Geometry software, and in each section, a transect of 100m length was established in the center of small side along which 10 points were determined by random systematic method with nine-meter intervals. The distance methods compared included nearest neighbor, closest individual, third closest individual, random pairs, point center quarter, angle order, wandering quarter and variable area transect as well as control group (counting the number of each species in each section). The selected species included Astragalus effuses, Eryngium billardieri, Astragalus rhodosemius and Astragalusverus. The distribution pattern of plant communities was determined by Hopkines and Eberhardt indices. The density estimation error was calculated to evaluate the accuracy. Duncan's test was used to compare the accuracy of methods, and standard deviation and time method were used to compare the efficiency of methods. The results of this study showed that nearest neighbor and closest individual methods (in terms of time), random pairs method (in terms of accuracy) and variable area transect (in terms of precision) could be introduced as the most efficient methods.
Saleh Arekhi; Hasan Fathizad
Volume 21, Issue 3 , December 2014, Pages 466-481
Abstract
Rapid land-use/land cover changes have taken place in many arid and semi-arid regions of Iran such as west of Iran over the last decades due to demographic pressure, agricultural pressure, government polices and environmental factors such as drought. This study was aimed to investigate the trends of ...
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Rapid land-use/land cover changes have taken place in many arid and semi-arid regions of Iran such as west of Iran over the last decades due to demographic pressure, agricultural pressure, government polices and environmental factors such as drought. This study was aimed to investigate the trends of changes in the landscape, in Doiraj Watershed. In order to provide land cover maps, the satellite images of TM 1985, ETM+2000, ETM+2007 were applied and landscape metrics of class area, largest patch index, number and mean patch size, patch density and edge density were used to quantify landscape patterns. Various class-level landscape pattern metrics were calculated using FRAGTATS, in order to analyze landscape fragmentation. The results of landscape ecology change revealed that in this area during the first period (1985 - 2000), the area of forest lands decreased to 3,415 hectares, while the agricultural lands with 3514 hectares showed an increasing trend. On the other hand, the area of fair rangelands (20,440 hectares) showed a decreasing trend (in both periods) contrary to the area of poor rangelands, indicating the degradation process in the study area. Our results clearly showed that increased number of patches and decreased mean patch area were two important fragmentation indicators and the trend of landscape degradation and fragmentation was increasing. Therefore, the results necessitated paying attention to the quality of land use and cover in the region for decreasing the degradation of natural resources.
Mohammad Fayaz; Hasan Yeganeh; Mirtaher Ghaemi; Hosein Piri Sahragard; Mehdi Moameri
Volume 21, Issue 3 , December 2014, Pages 482-493
Abstract
Knowledge of preference value of rangeland species during the grazing period is essential for range management and planning. The purpose of this study was to investigate the preference value of plant species grazed by crossbreed cows during the grazing period in Tezkharab Rangeland of West Azerbaijan ...
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Knowledge of preference value of rangeland species during the grazing period is essential for range management and planning. The purpose of this study was to investigate the preference value of plant species grazed by crossbreed cows during the grazing period in Tezkharab Rangeland of West Azerbaijan Province using species selection index. The data required were collected over six months of grazing season for four years to calculate the species selection index. According to the obtained results, the effects of species, grazing time and their interaction were significant on species preference value. Maximum and minimum preference values were recorded for Aeluropus littoralis (1.48, class I) and Halocenumum strobilaceum (0.14, class III), respectively. The preference value changes of the studied species were constant during the months of grazing season as well as the years. Overall, available forage of halophytes in saline rangelands of Urmia could be estimated using the data of preference value.
Abolfazl Rahmatizadeh; Mohammad Jafary
Volume 21, Issue 3 , December 2014, Pages 496-506
Abstract
Due to the population growth and human intervention in nature, desertification has increased drastically. The Masileh watershed is located in the southern highlands of central Alborz. In this study, vegetation condition, the volume of water entering the area, soil chemical characteristics, and ...
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Due to the population growth and human intervention in nature, desertification has increased drastically. The Masileh watershed is located in the southern highlands of central Alborz. In this study, vegetation condition, the volume of water entering the area, soil chemical characteristics, and agricultural production statistics of the region were examined and compared before and after the construction of dams during two periods with an interval of five years. Results showed that since the construction of 15- Khordad dam in 1995, the volume of water entering the Masileh plain has reached zero.The hydrograph study showed that the groundwater level of Masileh plain has dropped on average five meters/year. Due to the lack of flood entering and soil washing, the salt concentration of soil surface layers in most vegetation types has increased. Due to the lack of root access to water, the canopy cover percentage in halophyte vegetation types with shallow roots such as Aeloropus litoralis and Cyperus sp has been reduced up to 100%, and new species such as Halocnemum strobilaceum and Halostachys caspica have been replaced. In terms of agriculture, significant changes have occurred in the composition and type of agricultural crops. Our results clearly showed that the Masileh plain is turning from a productive agricultural area into a real desert.
Farhang Ghasryani; Mina Bayat; Afsaneh Jabarzare; Mirtaher Ghaemi
Volume 21, Issue 3 , December 2014, Pages 507-517
Abstract
The calculation of carrying capacity and allowable use of key species is necessary for sustainable range management. Vegetation degradation and soil and water loss can be prevented in the rangeland through calculating the actual carrying capacity. The aim of this research was to evaluate the effects ...
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The calculation of carrying capacity and allowable use of key species is necessary for sustainable range management. Vegetation degradation and soil and water loss can be prevented in the rangeland through calculating the actual carrying capacity. The aim of this research was to evaluate the effects of different harvesting intensities on forage production of Puccinellia distans in saline lands of West Azarbaijan Province. Initially, an area of 0.5 hectare was selected in saline rangelands, located around the Urmia Lake and in the first year of the study excluded from grazing. Forty individuals of the studied species were selected and harvested monthly by clipper at harvesting intensities of 25%, 50%, and 75%. Ultimately, the effects of harvesting intensities on phenological characteristics, forage production, vigor and vitality and mortality of each species were investigated. According to the obtained results, increased harvesting intensity resulted in decreased vitality of the studied species. Our results clearly showed that a harvesting intensity of 50% could be recommended with the least negative effects on plant characteristics and optimal use of forage.
Kazem Saedi; Adel Sepehri; Mohammad Pesarakli; Hosein Gharedaghi; Reza Azizinejad
Volume 21, Issue 3 , December 2014, Pages 518-529
Abstract
In most Iranian rangelands, continuous grazing begins with melting snow and continues until the beginning of snow. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of continuous grazing system on a number of morphological attributes of Bromus tomentellus and Ferula haussknechtii during 2010-2011 in Saral ...
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In most Iranian rangelands, continuous grazing begins with melting snow and continues until the beginning of snow. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of continuous grazing system on a number of morphological attributes of Bromus tomentellus and Ferula haussknechtii during 2010-2011 in Saral Rangelands of Kurdistan Province. The 30-year exclosure was selected as control area inside the Saral Research Station. In different growth stages, the morphological attributes including the shortest and longest basal area diameter, the shortest and longest canopy diameter, and the height of 10 plants were measured. The annual yield of 30 plants of each species in each year was clipped and weighed to determine forage consumption intensity. All data were subjected to statistical analysis in a completely randomized design using combined analysis. Mean comparisons were performed using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test. Continuous grazing caused to the increase of basal area diameter and canopy diameter of B. tomentellus significantly; however, the height varied in two studied treatments, depending on the year. The three studied morphological attributes of F. haussknekhtii were affected drastically by continuous grazing. In this species, basal area diameter was more affected by the conditions of the year. In both species, ungrazed plants used seasonable rainfall more efficiently as compared to the grazed plants.
Masoud Borhani; Hosein Arzani; Mehdi Basiri; Mohammad Ali Zare Chahouki; Mehdi Farahpour
Volume 21, Issue 3 , December 2014, Pages 530-540
Abstract
In order to investigate the effects of range management plans on cover, production, litter, and regeneration of plants in Semirum rangelands, 54 sites including 29 with plan and 25 without plan were selected. The implementation of range management plans resulted in the decrease of stocking rate, affecting ...
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In order to investigate the effects of range management plans on cover, production, litter, and regeneration of plants in Semirum rangelands, 54 sites including 29 with plan and 25 without plan were selected. The implementation of range management plans resulted in the decrease of stocking rate, affecting the improvement of vegetation. According to the obtained results, no significant differences were found for the mean total cover, production and number of seedlings between two managements (P<0.05), while in the sites with plan, the cover, production and number of seedlings of class 1 plants, and cover and production of perennial grasses were significantly more than those of the sites without plan. This result was also true in the case of litter. These variations in plant composition were due to the impact of controlling the intensity and timing of grazing on the competition between palatable and perennial species with invasive and annual ones.
shokoofeh Shokrollahi; Hamidreza Moradi; Ghasem Ali Dianati Tilaki; Zahra Jabeolansar
Volume 21, Issue 3 , December 2014, Pages 541-548
Abstract
This study is focused on investigation of plant species distribution in relation to edaphic and physiographic factors. For this purpose, after the initial visit and selection of the study area, 23 land units were selected from overlaying the maps of slope, aspect and height using geographic information ...
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This study is focused on investigation of plant species distribution in relation to edaphic and physiographic factors. For this purpose, after the initial visit and selection of the study area, 23 land units were selected from overlaying the maps of slope, aspect and height using geographic information system (GIS). Within each unit, vegetation sampling was performed with randomized-systematic method along three transects of 100 m length. Ten plots (1m2) were established along each transect at 10 meter intervals. Soil samples were taken from 0-30 centimeter in starting, mean and ending points of each transect. Soil factors such as N, P, organic matter, pH, EC and texture were measured. CANOCO software and redundancy analysis (RDA) were used to examine the relationship between species and environmental factors. The first axis of RDA showed a significant correlation with slope, aspect, sand, silt, P, pH and litter, while the second axis had just a significant correlation with EC.
Bayazid Yousefi; Ali Ashraf Jafari
Volume 21, Issue 3 , December 2014, Pages 549-561
Abstract
This research was aimed to investigate the effect of drought stress on sainfoin ecotypes using two randomized complete block designs with three replications under rainfed and irrigated conditions. The pooled analysis of variance showed significant differences between irrigated and rainfed conditions ...
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This research was aimed to investigate the effect of drought stress on sainfoin ecotypes using two randomized complete block designs with three replications under rainfed and irrigated conditions. The pooled analysis of variance showed significant differences between irrigated and rainfed conditions for most of the traits, indicating significant impact of drought stress. Higher values were obtained for dry forage yield as well as most of the traits under irrigated condition as compared to the rainfed condition. The average number of plant and main stem per plot, (p≤ 0.01) and dry forage yield (p≤0.05) showed significant differences among the ecotypes of sainfoin. The interaction effect between ecotype x environment was not significant for the studied traits. The highest dry forage was recorded for the ecotypes of 14, 19, 48, 25 and 3, with a production of 299.5, 289.1, 266.9, 266.1 and 249.4 g per plot (2m2), respectively. A positive significant correlation (p≤0.01) was found between dry forage yield and number of plants and stems per plot, plant vitality, plant height, and total ash while dry forage yield showed a negative significant correlation with leaf to stem ratio (p ≤ 0.01) and days to flowering (p ≤ 0.05). Stepwise regression results showed that dry weight, number of plants per plot, vitality, days to flowering, and plant height were the main components of dry forage yield (R2=91). There was no direct associatin between cluster analysis grouping and geographical origin of ecotypes
Saeedeh Sadadt Mirzadeh; Adel Jalili; soheila Ashrafi
Volume 21, Issue 3 , December 2014, Pages 562-569
Abstract
Scarification is one of the most effective treatments in improving seed germination. The seed germination percentage of some species is increased by scarification treatment. In the current study, the seeds were collected from different regions of the country and the effects of scarification on seed germination ...
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Scarification is one of the most effective treatments in improving seed germination. The seed germination percentage of some species is increased by scarification treatment. In the current study, the seeds were collected from different regions of the country and the effects of scarification on seed germination percentage and germination speed of Hedysarum formosum, Sesbania punicea, Vicia lathyroides, Ononis spinosa from Papilionaceae family, Althea wilhelminae from Malvaceae family, Bryonia aspera from Cucurbitaceae family,and Vaccaria grandiflora from Caryophyllaceae family were studied. According to the obtained results, scarification had a significant positive effect on seed germination percentage and germination speed of all species except Bryonia aspera. However, scarification treatment had no significant effect on seed germination percentage of Hedysarum formosum, but increased the speed of seed germination. Our results clearly showed that scarification could enhance the speed of germination in the species of papilionaceae family, as compared to other families.