Mohammad Fayaz; Seyed Hamid Habibian; Hasan Yeganeh; Avar Sanaie
Volume 22, Issue 1 , June 2015, Pages 1-11
Abstract
In this research, the preference value of range species for sheep and goat was studied in the Cheshme-Anjir rangelands of Fars province during four years (2007-2010). Direct observation (timing) method was used during the grazing months (June, July, August and September). In each month, around one to ...
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In this research, the preference value of range species for sheep and goat was studied in the Cheshme-Anjir rangelands of Fars province during four years (2007-2010). Direct observation (timing) method was used during the grazing months (June, July, August and September). In each month, around one to two hours after entering livestock to the rangeland, livestock grazing was filmed for 30 minutes and was transferred to the computer to determine the time of grazing for each species. In addition, the frequency and duration of the use of each species in the mentioned months was examined. Afterward, data were analyzed by SAS software in a completely randomized block design. Results showed that there was significant difference (p<0.01) among the species studied in terms of time percentage and grazing frequency. However, the effect of month and month*species for time percentage and grazing frequency treatments was not significant. The results of preference value of species showed that maximum time percentage and grazing frequency for sheep and goat was on annual grasses+ forbs, and in general, results showed that goat was a browser livestock and sheep was a grazer livestock.
Mehdi Ganji; Gholamreza Zehtabian; Mohammad Jafary; Hasan Khosravi; Reyhaneh Masoudi
Volume 22, Issue 1 , June 2015, Pages 12-20
Abstract
In many parts of arid and semi-arid regions of Iran, agricultural activities such as mismanagement of land as well as inappropriate irrigation systems have seriously led to land degradation and desertification. Therefore, it is necessary to do some researches in order to determine which region is suitable ...
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In many parts of arid and semi-arid regions of Iran, agricultural activities such as mismanagement of land as well as inappropriate irrigation systems have seriously led to land degradation and desertification. Therefore, it is necessary to do some researches in order to determine which region is suitable for agriculture or not and if the region is suitable, what type of agriculture management should be applied prevalently. To achieve this goal, a region in Arak Mighan playa (Savarabad watershed) was chosen. At first, different maps of region including soil map, elevation and land use maps were prepared by ArcGIS 10.1. Five land uses were recognized as treatments including garden lands, dry farming systems, irrigation lands, dry lands and rangelands. Soil samples were taken and soil factors including N, Ca, Mg, and Humus as well as degradation factors such as EC, SAR, pH, Na and Hco3 were measured at two depths of 0-30 cm and 30-60 cm. The analysis of factors was done by SPSS software and results showed that there were significant differences among treatments based on Duncan test. In addition, rangeland was identified as a favorable treatment in terms of EC, pH, SAR in the surface layer. According to the results, it was found that rangelands had ideal conditions and dry farming and dry lands were identified as the most unfavorable treatments.
Zahra Abolalizadeh; Ataollah Ebrahimi
Volume 22, Issue 1 , June 2015, Pages 21-30
Abstract
Sabzkouh protected area is located in central Zagros. This area, with a variety of natural ecosystems and landscapes, is very rich from the point of diversity of climate, topography, habitats and wildlife. Its ecosystems, like other semi-arid ecosystems of Iran, have undergone changes in their structure ...
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Sabzkouh protected area is located in central Zagros. This area, with a variety of natural ecosystems and landscapes, is very rich from the point of diversity of climate, topography, habitats and wildlife. Its ecosystems, like other semi-arid ecosystems of Iran, have undergone changes in their structure in recent years. Nowadays, Markov chain models are widely used in ecological studies to predict these changes quantitatively. For this purpose, satellite images and geographic information system were used to predict the future condition of the region using CA-Markov model. Finally, the land cover map of the region for the next fifteen years (2003-2018) was predicted by CA-Markov model. According to the prediction map, an increase in the area of agricultural lands, shrub/brush rangelands and forests of the region was observed, while the area of forbs rangelands and bare lands decreased. The results of these predictions provide a valuable tool to the managers and policy makers of natural resources and environment
Esmaiel Sheydaye Karkaj; Seyedeh Zohreh Mirdeilami; Mousa Akbarlou
Volume 22, Issue 1 , June 2015, Pages 31-46
Abstract
In this study, in order to take appropriate measures in accordance with the principles of ecological management, the relationship between distribution of ecological species groups of Chahar Bagh summer rangelands with soil factors and various grazing management practices was investigated. Five dominant ...
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In this study, in order to take appropriate measures in accordance with the principles of ecological management, the relationship between distribution of ecological species groups of Chahar Bagh summer rangelands with soil factors and various grazing management practices was investigated. Five dominant vegetation units including reference area (exclosure), key and critical areas (pen, vicinity of village and watering point) were identified in the region, upon the range management and utilization types. Vegetation parameters including density and canopy cover percentage as well as soil properties of two depths were investigated by a random-systematic method. Clustering analysis and principle component analysis were applied to determine the ecological groups of the region as well as the effects of soil physicochemical properties on the distribution of ecological species groups using PC-ORD5 and Canoco 4.0 software. The results led to the separation of five ecological species groups from each other. In this region, the distribution of ecological species groups was affected by soil physicochemical properties (90.48%), management parameters (0.008%), and the interaction effects of these factors (10%). Among the soil physicochemical properties, clay percentage in the first depth (0.999), P content in the second depth (0.991), bulk density (-0.989), porosity (0.985), saturation percentage in the first depth (0.982), and K content in the second depth (0.996) had the highest impact on the distribution of ecological species groups, respectively.
Behnam Bahrami; Reza Erfanzadeh; Javad Moetamedi
Volume 22, Issue 1 , June 2015, Pages 47-58
Abstract
Study on the effect of different grazing intensities on some soil characteristics could be helpful in management and conservation of soil and vegetation. In this study, six key areas were selected with different in grazing intensities. The grazing intensities level for Makueian sheep race was recognized ...
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Study on the effect of different grazing intensities on some soil characteristics could be helpful in management and conservation of soil and vegetation. In this study, six key areas were selected with different in grazing intensities. The grazing intensities level for Makueian sheep race was recognized based on the distance to the villageand the cover percentage of invasive, increaser and decreaser species. In each area, soil sampling was done along systematically established transects, in which 18 soil samples were collected from two depths (0-15 and 15-30 cm). Soil samples were then transferred to the laboratory for the chemical and physical analysis of 17 soil characteristics.The results of principle component analysis showed that silt percentage, coarse and fine aggregate percentage, saturation percentage, and particulate organic carbon of upper layer (0-15 cm) as well as soil texture, the carbon of coarse and fine aggregates, EC, and the bulk density of lower layer (15-30 cm) were more sensitive to sheep grazing as compared to other soil characteristics.
Hasan Fathi Zad; Rashid Fallah Shamsi; Ali Mahdavi; Saleh Arekhi
Volume 22, Issue 1 , June 2015, Pages 59-72
Abstract
Rangelands are one of the most important renewable resources and because of their extent and economic, social and distinctive environmental impacts are of very special importance. Unfortunately, in our country, like most developing countries, rangelands have been exposed to degradation for various reasons ...
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Rangelands are one of the most important renewable resources and because of their extent and economic, social and distinctive environmental impacts are of very special importance. Unfortunately, in our country, like most developing countries, rangelands have been exposed to degradation for various reasons including the non-systematic management of these resources. Remote sensing technology and satellite data are useful tools in the studies of rangeland and vegetation sciences. One of the applications of satellite data is mapping range land use. The aim of this study was to compare two methods of maximum probability and fuzzy for rangeland zonation. For this purpose, Landsat ETM+ was used; then, after final geometric and radiometric corrections, the final classification map was prepared. According to the results of accuracy of these two methods using the kappa coefficient, the artificial neural network algorithm of fuzzy Artmap with a coefficient of 0.9614 was more accurate than the maximum probability algorithm with a coefficient of 0.8058. Results of this study also indicated that the traditional algorithms of classification such as statistical methods due to their low flexibility, and parametric types such as maximum probability method because of the dependence on the Gaussian statistics model, could not provide optimal results, when the samples were not normal. In this study, ENVI 4.5, Idrisi Andes 15 and Arc GIS9.3 software were used
Fahimeh Rafiee; Mohammad Jangjou; Hamid Ejehadi
Volume 22, Issue 1 , June 2015, Pages 73-85
Abstract
Plant traits can be used to study the mechanism of vegetation responses to the environmental disturbances. This study was aimed to study the changes in plant traits, in six-and two- year periods after wildfires in a semiarid rangeland. Three adjacent sites (control, burnt at 2004, burnt at 2008) were ...
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Plant traits can be used to study the mechanism of vegetation responses to the environmental disturbances. This study was aimed to study the changes in plant traits, in six-and two- year periods after wildfires in a semiarid rangeland. Three adjacent sites (control, burnt at 2004, burnt at 2008) were selected in Jowzak rangelands, Northern Khorasan, Iran. Plant sampling was conducted at spring and summer 2010. Floristic list was recorded in each site; also, 58 morphological, phonological and reproductive plant traits were measured. Results indicated four different responses by plant traits to the chronological wildfires. Type1 no response; 37 traits were not affected by the wildfires. Type2 adapted traits: annual plants were increased by times after burning. Type3 tolerant traits: plant with spins, hairs, prostrate canopy, rosette and elongated leaves, ramified stems, scattering by seeds, reproduction by seeds and/or rhizomes, and leaf phenology more than three months initially increased but finally reduced. Type 4 sensitive traits; perennial grasses, shrubs, scopus canopy, non-spiny, succulent leaves and stem elongated leaves gradually decreased with times after burning. In conclusion, plant traits have important roles in determining the responses of plant species to the environmental disturbances; hence, they can affect the secondary succession after the wildfire in rangelands.
Hashem Keneshlou; Mohammad Yousef Achak
Volume 22, Issue 1 , June 2015, Pages 86-99
Abstract
Management, conservation, utilization and rehabitation of species habitats require identifying the characteristics of the habitat and effective ecological factors. In the current research, after specifying the habitats of Salvadora oleiodes, six sites were selected to investigate silvicultural characteristics, ...
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Management, conservation, utilization and rehabitation of species habitats require identifying the characteristics of the habitat and effective ecological factors. In the current research, after specifying the habitats of Salvadora oleiodes, six sites were selected to investigate silvicultural characteristics, geological structure and soil properties. Three elderlyandmiddle-aged trees were selected in each site to record the phonological stages. Salvadora oleiodes is native to Asia (arid and semi-arid regions of north-west India, Pakistan, warm humid areas of Arabian Peninsula and South East of Iran) and tropical parts of Africa. It has been planted in Egypt and China. According to the obtained results, Salvadora oleiodes is distributed in warm regions of southern Balochistan from sea level (40-50 m a.s.l) to 1400 m a.s.l with an annual rainfall of 92-141mm and annual daily temperature of 24.6- 28.3ْC. The soil texture of the habitats was light to moderate with a mean pH and EC of 8.19 and 7.27dS/m, respectively, mainly on the sediments of Quaternary (52%) and Tertiary (48%). An average density of 6-40 trees per hectar, a mean total height of 4m, an average collar diameter of 10-35 cm, a mean crown cover of 54 m2 and a coverage percentage of 0.5 to 50 % were recorded at different habitats. Flowering period is from November to April and fruit ripening starts in June and July in different habitats. The species regenerates naturally by seed, sprout and root sucker. Young seedlings, out of reach of livestock, are able to establish under the shelter of mother trees and other species.
Nourollah Abdi; Saeed Gaygani
Volume 22, Issue 1 , June 2015, Pages 100-108
Abstract
Atmospheric carbon dioxide has noticeably increased in recent decades.Experiences show that restoration of vegetation could cause carbon to be stabilized in plant tissues, called carbon sequestration.This research was aimed to compare the potential of biomass carbon sequestration in the planted vegetation ...
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Atmospheric carbon dioxide has noticeably increased in recent decades.Experiences show that restoration of vegetation could cause carbon to be stabilized in plant tissues, called carbon sequestration.This research was aimed to compare the potential of biomass carbon sequestration in the planted vegetation types of Haloxylon persicum and Atriplex canescens and natural vegetation types of Salsola incanescens and Atriplex verrucifera in northwest of Meyghan desert, Arak. In each vegetation type, aboveground and underground biomass were measured for the dominant and companion species.Results showed that in all vegetation types, the amount of carbon stored in aerial biomass was higher than of underground biomass (2.61 times for the average of all vegetation types). The total biomass carbon sequestration of H. persicum, A. canescens, S. incanescens and A. veruccifera was531.19, 228.79, 207.77 and 91.61 g/m2, respectively and the average of H. persicum vegetation type showed a significant difference with other types. Our results clearly show that after 20 years of vegetation restoration, planted vegetation types of H. persicum and A. canescens are evaluated as successful in terms of biomass carbon sequestration.
Mehdi Ahmadian; Moloud Sadat chavoshian; Mohammad Darvish
Volume 22, Issue 1 , June 2015, Pages 109-120
Abstract
In recent years, the depletion of groundwater resources has been increased by the population explosionand the development of agriculture and industry. In this study, the geo-statistical methods were used to study the spatial and temporal variations in groundwater level in Kaboudrahang-Famenin plain. ...
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In recent years, the depletion of groundwater resources has been increased by the population explosionand the development of agriculture and industry. In this study, the geo-statistical methods were used to study the spatial and temporal variations in groundwater level in Kaboudrahang-Famenin plain. For this purpose, available data of region including information about piezometers and monitoring wells were collected and then, database was composed. Next, the control of data accuracy was carried out. For comparison of geo-statistical methods, the variograms were plotted respectively and the different interpolation methods such as kriging (simple model), cokriging and Inverse Distance Weight with powers 1 to 5 (IDW) and radial basis functions (Thin Plate Radial Function, Inverse Multi Quadratic and Multi Quadratic) for groundwater zoning were used. The best interpolation method was selected by using two criteria, Root Mean Square (RMSE) and General Standard Deviation (GSD), and finally the zoning map of groundwater level was drawn in Arc-GIS software. The results of spatial statistical analysis indicated that the best variogram models for groundwater level data in the first period (1989), in the middle period (1993&1999) and the last period (2006) were spherical, circular and pentaspherical models, respectively.Evaluation of various interpolation methods with using "cross validation criteria" showed that in the investigation period, cokriging had the lowest estimation error compared with other interpolation methods. Thus, Cokriging was the most suitable interpolation method. The results of interpolated digital maps during the study period showed that the maximum fall of water table in 17 years was recorded to be 55 meters for central east region of plain. This shows the dramatic reduction in groundwater reserves of the region, which would not lead to industrial and agricultural sustainable development.
Sadeq pourmoradi; Ali Ashraf Jafari
Volume 22, Issue 1 , June 2015, Pages 121-130
Abstract
In order to study on the variation of forage yield and quality traits among seven accessions of red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), an experiment was conducted using a randomized complete block design with three replications in rangelands of Mazandaran province, Iran, in three consecutive years (2003-2005). ...
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In order to study on the variation of forage yield and quality traits among seven accessions of red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), an experiment was conducted using a randomized complete block design with three replications in rangelands of Mazandaran province, Iran, in three consecutive years (2003-2005). The data were collected for persistency, growth type and dry matter yield. Seven quality traits including crude protein (CP), dry matter digestibility (DMD), water soluble carbohydrates (WSC), crude fiber (CF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and total ash were estimated using NIR methods. DMD-yield, WSC-yield and CP-yield were also estimated. Data were analyzed for each year and were combined over years. The means of treatments were comprised using Duncan¢s multiple range test. Results showed that the forage production of accessions 618, 1753 and 324 in each year and the mean of two years were higher as compared to other accessions. As a result, these accessions had higher forage yield, quality and persistency and they were suggested for cultivation in northern Alborz rangelands. Among them, the accession 1753, originated from Urmia, with prostrate growth habit was recognized as the best one for pasture regeneration in northern Alborz rangelands.
Kazem Saedi
Volume 22, Issue 1 , June 2015, Pages 131-142
Abstract
In this study, samples were collected in several phenological stages (in two growing seasons of 2010 and 2011) to assess the effects of two grazing systems (continuous and short-term) on forage quality of three key range species of Bromus tomentellus, Cephalaria kotschyi and Ferula haussknechtii ...
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In this study, samples were collected in several phenological stages (in two growing seasons of 2010 and 2011) to assess the effects of two grazing systems (continuous and short-term) on forage quality of three key range species of Bromus tomentellus, Cephalaria kotschyi and Ferula haussknechtii in Zardawan ranch, and two species of Bromus tomentellus and Ferula haussknechtii in Baharestan ranch. The grazing systems are short-term and continuous in Zardawan and Baharestan, respectively. The studied traits were dry matter digestibility (DMD), acid detergent fibers (ADF), water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC), ash and crude protein (CP). Near infra-red spectroscopy (NIRS) was used to measure these traits. A combined analysis based on unbalanced completely randomized design was conducted for statistical analysis. Mean comparisons were made by Duncan's multiple range test. Results indicated that for all species, phenological stages affected all studied traits, without any exception, so that the late vegetative growth stage could be recommended as a proper time for livestock entry to the rangeland. In the face of variation sources studied, different species showed different responses. The comparison of species habitats showed that none of forage quality traits of B. tomentellus and F. haussknechtii differed in the two sites studied. The mean of most forage quality traits were similar in the two years. According to the results, short-duration grazing system of the Shagaldari did not affect the measured traits negatively, but continuous heavy grazing caused to decreased forage quality.
Saeed Rashvand
Volume 22, Issue 1 , June 2015, Pages 143-157
Abstract
Studying the phenology of range species is important in determining the time for livestock entry to and exit from rangeland. This research was conducted in semi-steppe rangelands of Alamoot, Qazvin for four years during 2007 to 2010. Among 82 species, six key species were selected of which four species ...
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Studying the phenology of range species is important in determining the time for livestock entry to and exit from rangeland. This research was conducted in semi-steppe rangelands of Alamoot, Qazvin for four years during 2007 to 2010. Among 82 species, six key species were selected of which four species were grass (Dactylis glomerata, Bromus tomentellus, Festuca ovina, and Agropyron intermedium) and two were shrub (Thymus kotschyanus and Artemisia aucheri). From each species, 10 individuals were selected to study their phenology. Vegetative stage of key grasses started from the first half of May and was completed by the end of month. Flowering stage started from the last week of May and continued to the first half of June for 15-18 days, and seeding stage started from the second half of June and lasted for 10-15 days. The vegetative stage of Thymus kotschyanus started from the first half of May and was completed after 30-35 days. Flowering stage started from the second decade of June and was completed after 15-17 days. Seeding stage started from the third decade of June and lasted for 10-13 days. The vegetative stage of Artemisia aucheri began from the second half of May and was completed by the first decade of July, continuing for 45-55 days. Flowering stage started from the second decade of July and continued to the second decade of September. Seeding stage started from the early second decade of September and lasted to the end of October. According to the results of soil analysis, soil moisture is very low in the end of May, suitable for livestock entry to the rangeland. Our results clearly showed that early June was the time for livestock entry to the rangeland, and the second half of August was determined as the time for livestock exit from rangeland.
Hosein Arzani; Esmaiel Sabri; Javad Moetamedi; Seyed Akbar Javadi
Volume 22, Issue 1 , June 2015, Pages 158-167
Abstract
Several sheep breeds with different sizes use the rangelands in different climatic regions of West Azerbaijan province. Since these rangelands differ regarding the vegetation and physical characteristics and these differences cause the amount of animals’ mobility to vary, the amount of required ...
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Several sheep breeds with different sizes use the rangelands in different climatic regions of West Azerbaijan province. Since these rangelands differ regarding the vegetation and physical characteristics and these differences cause the amount of animals’ mobility to vary, the amount of required forage for providing their daily metabolic energy at different grazing times would not be the same. Therefore, to organize the animal feeding on the rangeland, mapping the daily requirement of animals grazing on the rangelands of area was necessary. In this regard, at first, the average amount of metabolic energy per unit weight of rangelands grazed by animals at different growth stages in the summer and winter rangelands were identified and then, considering the daily metabolic energy requirement of each sheep breed in maintenance state, the amount of daily required forage was determined, and on the basis of mentioned results, the map of daily animal requirement at different growth stages was provided. According to the obtained results, it was found that the amount of forage providing the daily requirement of sheep breeds in different climatic pastures of the province varied between 1.04 and 2.31kg per day, so that the least amount was related to the forage providing daily requirement of Makui breed (with an average weight of 45.36 kg) at the initial growth stages of summer rangelands in the northern areas of the province, and the highest amount belonged to the forage providing daily requirement of Ghezel breed (with an average weight of 71.57 kg) and the Herki breed (with an average weight of 53.50kg) at the final growth stages (seeding stage) of winter rangelands in the southern areas of the province
Roya Ehghaghi; Asghar Mosleh Arani; Hamid Reza Azim Zadeh; Mohammad Zargaran; Bahman Kiani
Volume 22, Issue 1 , June 2015, Pages 168-183
Abstract
The distribution and establishment of plant species is affected by plant characteristics and environmental conditions. The species of Calligonum genus, belonging to Polygonaceae family, have a wide distribution in arid and semi-arid climates. In this study, the distribution and qualitative characteristics ...
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The distribution and establishment of plant species is affected by plant characteristics and environmental conditions. The species of Calligonum genus, belonging to Polygonaceae family, have a wide distribution in arid and semi-arid climates. In this study, the distribution and qualitative characteristics of four species of Calligonum (C. stenopterum, C. persicum, C. bungei, and C. polygonoides) were investigated. In each habitat, four soil profiles were dug and soil properties including soil texture, EC, pH, lime, gypsum, SAR, and organic matter were measured. Results showed that all species needed a light soil texture, loamy-sand, with relatively high gypsum and lime content and a slightly alkaline pH. Very low canopy cover indicated a low humidity condition as well as the sever lack of organic matter in soil. Very low rainfall, large temperature differences between summer and winter, and a long dry season (10 12months) were the characteristics of the study habitats. The number of frost days in the habitats of C. stenopterum and C. persicum was lower as compared to the habitats of C. bungei and C. polygonoides, providing the conditions for growth of C. stenopterum and C. persicum, which are exclusively native to this region of Iran
Taghi Mirhaji; Farhang Ghasryani; Farhad Azhir
Volume 22, Issue 1 , June 2015, Pages 184-193
Abstract
This research was aimed to determine the allowable use of Bromus tomentellus, Festuca ovina and Stipa hohenackeriana in Firouzkooh rangeland during 2006 to 2010. Treatments included different harvesting intensities of 25%, 50%, 75% and control, performed on 40 medium-sized individuals of each species. ...
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This research was aimed to determine the allowable use of Bromus tomentellus, Festuca ovina and Stipa hohenackeriana in Firouzkooh rangeland during 2006 to 2010. Treatments included different harvesting intensities of 25%, 50%, 75% and control, performed on 40 medium-sized individuals of each species. Data were analyzed in a split plot in time design by SAS software and means were compared using Duncan. Results showed that the effects of treatment, year, and interaction effect of year*treatment were significant at 1% level of significance. In addition, the results of mean comparisons showed that the reduced forage yield was under the influence of harvesting intensities. In this regard, S.hohenackeriana and B.tomentellus were sensitive to drought while F.ovina was resistant to drought and more affected by the harvesting intensity. Our results clearly showed that a harvesting intensity of 25% and control treatment had no impact on the yield of species, leading to the reduced forage yield of the mentioned species. Therefore, an allowable use of 50% is recommended.
Amir Hosein Parsamehr; Mohammadreza Vahabi; zahra Khorovani
Volume 22, Issue 1 , June 2015, Pages 194-203
Abstract
Vegetation cover is one of the most important factors for ecosystem sustainability; thus, recognizing and understanding factors affecting the establishment and distribution of vegetation communities are necessary. This study was aimed to determine the relationship between vegetation and soil parameters ...
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Vegetation cover is one of the most important factors for ecosystem sustainability; thus, recognizing and understanding factors affecting the establishment and distribution of vegetation communities are necessary. This study was aimed to determine the relationship between vegetation and soil parameters of Ardestan rangelands, Isfahan Province. Primarily, the vegetation types were distinguished in the field using physiognomic method. Plot size was determined applying minimal area method. The number of plots was determined using statistical method. Systematic randomized sampling was used and performed along three transects of 100 m length. Ten plots of 6m2 were established along each transect at 10-meter intervals. Three soil profiles were dug in each area and soil samples were taken at a depth of 0-150 cm to study 21 soil factors. The results of factor analysis showed that among variables studied, 17 variables were the most effective factors on vegetation types of the study area. To determine the effect of environmental factors on the establishment of vegetation, canonical correspondence analysis was used applying CANOCO software. Ordination results showed that environmental factors such as soil texture, lime, potassium and electrical conductivity had the most important role in the establishment and expansion of plant communities in the study area.