Journal of Rangeland
Year:2009 | Volume:2 | Issue:4|Papers Count:15

Kopeh-Kari is the most common method for improving mountainous rangelands in Iran. The environmental constraints, such as air dryness, high and low temperatures, wind, low soil fertility, and animal grazing can lead to high mortality of seedlings, which have been established in the Kopeh-kari small basins. Therefore, we investigated the possibility of seeding under the canopy of rangeland shrubs. Seeds of Bromus kopetdaghensis (a perennial forage grass) were sown in open areas (kopeh-kari) or under the canopy of three rangeland shrubs, i.e. Astragalus mesedensis Bunge, Acantholimon sp and Artemisia khorasanica Podl. Results indicated higher soil moisture, nutrients and organic carbon, which were coincident with the improved establishment of Bromus seedling, under the shrub canopies as compared with the open areas. However, the facilitation effect was dependent on the shrub growth form, the time of measurement, and the type of environmental factors. Lower competition for light, higher accumulation of litter and organic matter, and probably capability for fixing the atmospheric nitrogen, enhanced the facilitation effect of Astragalus on the establishment of Bromus seedlings under its canopy. On the other hand, lower light intensity and soil fertility caused to lower facilitation capabilities for Acantholimon and Artemisia, respectively. In conclusion, our results show the method of range seeding under the shrub canopies as potentially successful for improving the mountainous rangelands. However, this method is to be tested under the contrasting conditions, for knowing its strength and weakness as compared with the other restoration methods.

The aim of this research was to study the direct gradient analysis of plant and environmental factors in ecological groups in Zirkouh rangelands of Qaen. Field sampling was performed within five ecological groups which were identified in previous studies in Zirkouh rangelands. In each ecological group, sampling was done based on random-systematic method. Four transects each one with a length of 150 m were established in each ecological group. Soil, topography and climatic factors were recorded in each ecological group. Therefore, twelve environmental parameters included soil texture, electrical conductivity, pH, lime, organic matter, soil moisture content, soil saturation percentage, elevation, slope, aspect, annual mean precipitation and annual mean temperature. Redundancy Analysis (RDA) was used to examine the relationships between plant species and environmental factors. RDA axis 1 showed significant correlation with clay, sand, pH, organic matter, soil saturation percentage, lime and slope, while RDA axis 2 showed significant correlation only with silt. These gradients were related closely to the first two axes, and accounted for 96% of the species - environment relationships in the ecological groups in Zirkouh rangelands of Qaen.

Nowadays, range managers have more tendency than past to apply ecological considerations to analyze of complex systems like rangeland. Reorganization of relationship between diversity and richness with range condition, which justifies range health, is one of the remarkable controversies to determine of range condition. In this research, which have done on upland rangeland in order to investigation of relevance between range condition and species richness and diversity, four ranges sites (three sites are closed in different times and one site is open area) were selected and their conditions have also monitored based on range value's method. Species diversity and richness data was determined by index in any types and then it was analysed in PAST software.Duncan method was chosen to compare between types and data analysis is done by SPSS software. Results showed that diversity has decreased in poor or good to excellent conditions in types, and it has only increased in intermediate condition under moderate grazing. According to diversity and richness in vegetation types, Bromus – Trifolium had maximum range of species diversity and richness. Species diversity and richness had also showed a significant relationship with range condition in difference types of ranges. Range condition has the best situation in 25-years closed of Tak and the worst situation in free Tak area.

Natural resources management, specially rangeland, need to increase scientific capability and use of the useful techniques and methods for range evaluation. One of this, evaluating vegetation using remote sensing, which photographic methods is its component. In this research, the possibility use of the digital photographic and image analyses technology to estimate vegetation was investigated in comparison with visual estimation in two types of the grassland and shrub land. After selection the study area, in each region according vegetation characteristic, sampling was conducted in 1 and 2 M2 quadrats. 1 M2 quadrate was used in Taleghan representing grassland type, and 2 M2 in Zarand representing shrubland type, was used 1 and M 2 quadrat in arrangement and in each of these areas, 30 quadrat was used. Then in each quadrat four factor canopy cover, bare land, gravel and litter was estimated. The photoes was edited in Adobe Photoshop (7.0 ME) software and was delivered in Ilwis (3.0 Beta) to estimating the above factors. The results have shown that there is a significant difference between digital photographic and visual estimation methods.

Presenting a new spatial model for suitability of gum tragacanth exploitation was the aim in this study. After preparing basic information including topographical 1:50000 maps, aerial photos, vegetation types, as well as local exploiter's comments, useful criteria were determined. To estimate the gum yield per cover area, 100 m 2 circle quadrate was used in different types, totally. Total yield for the studied site was estimated exceeding 18000 kg that should be exploited in a rest-rotational system during 5 years. Gum-productive Astragalus species form the average of 3% of vegetation cover. Using GIS, maps of land form (slope, aspect and elevation from sea level) were made from Digital Elevation Model. Then the specified classification conducted to gain the land form submodels. The map of distance from village prepared using buffer option and the gum yield submodel created by applying the type yield categories on vegetation types map. The least value identified for the final land units in integrated map of suitability model. In these processes, the sub models aspect (4 classes), hypsometry (2 classes), slope (2 classes), distance from village (3classes) and gum yield (3 classes) were crossed to gain the final model. Comparison of sub models' maps implied that the aspect submodel affected the most various categorization be ause of its important ecological role in mountainous ecosystems. Emong the submodels, the distance from village was the most effective one in categorization so that about 53% of the study area identified as S3 from the view of this criterion. The traditional exploitation and camping with family near the village is the reason for this phenomenon. Eventually, 3%, 15%, 27%,55%, of the study area were determined as S1, S2, S3and non-suitable for gum exploitation, respectively.

The study was conducted in Sarchah Ammary region which is located in Birjand city, south Khorasan Province. Determination of range suitability is determining those lands which are suitable for grazing under several scenarios. Indeed our aim was to determine whether grazing in these lands is prior to other land uses, resource values, and socio- economic values. In this study for surveying of camel grazing suitability, three sub models including: water model, erosion sensibility, and production model were created. The sum of sub models made the final model. FAD model (1991) was used in geographical information system (GIS) environment in this study. According to the results 64/4% of area was marginally suitable (S3), and 35/6% was classified as non suitable (N) for grazing. Extensive erosion and low availability of forage were the most declining factors for grazing suitability in the region.

Smirnovia iranica is an adaptable plant with desert environments. This species grows on sand dunes and is valuable in view point of forage production, soil conservation and herbal remedy. Since, seed germination of S. iranica is low, therefore the current research was performed to test different donnancy breaking treatments effect on seed germination of S. iranica. The studied treatments were H2SO4 (98%), KNO3 (%0.2) and scarification. To compare the results, distilled water was considered as control treatment. A Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with 4 treatments and 5 replications was made. To analyze the data, ANOV A was used. Duncan test was applied to compare the means. Results showed that there were significant differences between treatments. The highest germination percentage and velocity of germination was related to scarification while the lowest one was related to distilled water. KNO3 was positioned between scarification and H2SO4.

Caper is a native to the Mediterranean basin and adaptable plant to arid and semiarid area and which is also used for restoration in these zones. Caper produced a lot of seed but have poor germination, limited soil moisture and salinity influences germination and seedling growth. Therefore effects of drought and salinity on germination were studied. Experiment was conducted in Agriculture College of Shiraz University in 2007. Experimental design was a randomized complete arrangement in four replications in which salinity and drought treatments at six levels (0 -0.25, -0.5 , - 0.75, -1, -1.25 MP of NaCl and PEG at 25c), the result showed that drought and salinity had a significant effects on germination percentage, germination rate, shoot and root length, vigor index and seedling dry weight. Germination percentage and seedling dry weight decreased more than others. Caper had sensitive higher to salinity than drought.

Using native plant species is a main method in reclamation projects of rangelands but it is important to consider interaction effects of two or more species when they are planting with together. Zataria multiflora, due to having chemical properties, may contain allelochemical components. In this research, allelopathic effects of mentioned species were tested on Stipa arabica and Cymbopogon olivieri seed emergence and seedling properties. For this purpose, a greenhouse experiment was performed using Zataria multiflora habitat soil. After cutting aerial and underground parts of this plant, extracts with concentrations of 25, 50, 75 and 100 percent for aerial parts and 50 and 100 percent for substrate parts were prepared. Also a control treatment (distilled water) was used, too. The seeds of Stipa arabica and Cymbopogon olivieri were planted in pots containing Zataria multiflora habitat soil in 6 replication for each treatment. Pots were watered using mentioned 7 treatments during the research. Emerged seedlings were counted and recorded daily. At the end of the experiment, some seedling properties such as stem and root length, stem and root dried and wet weight were measured. Data were analyzed using ANOV A. Duncan test was made to compare the means. Results showed that Zataria multiflora have had inhibitory effect on understudy properties (P£0.01). Totally, it was cleared that Stipa arabica was affected less than Cymbopogon olivieri under allelopathic effects of Zataria multiflora.

Kavir National Park, 420000 ha of Iran arid and semi-arid Rangelands, located 50 Km far from south of Tehran. According to Conflicting concepts of traditional animal husbandry in protected area, this study has been done to determine economic benefit of tourism in the framework of multiple-use of Rangelands. Travel-Cost Method (TCM) has been applied to estimate the economic benefit of the park area. Closed-answer Questionnaires has been used to collect TC data and to extract TCM essential components. First of all, the surrounding region of the park has been classified into 5 concentric sub-regions, according to travel costs statistical analysis and related travel departures. Then the visitor's demand function has been estimated, using average travel costs against number of the visitors per 100 thousands of residents from the sub-region. Using the demand function and establishing an assumed entrance fee, number of expected visitors has been estimated in the fees, started from 5000 Rial up to 170000 Rial. Then, new demand functions established on the basis of the assumed entrance fees against the expected number of visitors on weekends, both for all visitors and the visitors just from Tehran. Economic value has been estimated by calculating integral of the later demand functions, is about 23668000 Rial and 31808500 Rial for the all visitors and the visitors from Tehran, respectively. These are about 12.5 and 16.6 Rial per ha per year respectively. The method is very simple while it presents a quantitative index to valuate economic benefits, from natural land. Also, it is recommended to employ "Willingness to Pay" and "Opportunity Cost" Method to valuate economic benefits of natural Rangelands.

Proper management of water and soil resources in a watershed needs to recognize the potential of different parts in runoff and sediment production. Towards this attempt, Sarchah Ammary rangeland with an area of 14503 ha was selected to quantify the rate of runoff generation and sediment yield from different quaternary formations. Slope and geology maps were intersected, at first, in order to prepare work units. The experiments runs were then taken place by using rainfall simulator through falling rainfalls with the intensity of 3 rnm.min-1 and 14 min duration on three 0.0625 m2 plots with three replicates. The amounts of runoff, sediment and sediment concentration from each treatment were consequently compared using ANOVA. The analysis of results verified the differences among study variables of runoff, sediment and sediment concentration with respective significant level of 0.043, 0.000 and 0.009. The results also approved the maximum potential of unconsolidated alluvial fans and saline flats in runoff generation and sediment concentration, respectively.