Journal of Rangeland
Year:2017 | Volume:10 | Issue:4|Papers Count:14

The effects of grazing on vegetation and range conditions were investigated in Arshaq, Saiin and Sardul rangelands in Ardebil province over the past 9 years (1998 to 2006).) The vegetation composition, plant functional groups, biomass, species diversity and richness of ungrazed and grazed areas were compared. Plants canopy cover and forage production were measured using one square meter quadrats. According to the results, the average canopy cover of perennial species in the grazed and ungrazed areas were significantly different (P<0.01). Although the frequency of decreaser species such as Astragalus brachyodontus and Astragalus lilacinus were increased inside the exclosure, increaser species such as Helichrysum plicantum, Bupleurum leucocladum, Centaurea virgate, Galium verum and Geum rivula were declined in this area compared to the grazed site. Forage quality of plant species were more appropriate in the ungrazed area compared to the grazed area. Forage production has been increased from 300 to 700 kg dry matter per hectare due to protecting from livestock grazing.

Nomads use natural supplements to feed their livestock and they avoid consuming hormones and other chemical synthetic compounds, hence their organic production has high potential for commercialization and marketing. This study aimed to assess the social and economical characteristics of nomads affecting their participation to establish local dairy markets in Kerman province. Random sampling was used to collect 366 questionnaires from Soleimani, Mehni, Kochomye, Jabalbarezi and Ayeneye tribes in 2015. The results showed that nomads WTA (Willingness to Pay) are about 22600 Rials per one litter milk in local markets. Logit model indicated that the nomad’s livestock number, age, marital status, education, family size, annual income and expenditure have significant effect on their WTA. This study showed that local markets can be established with active nomad’s participation. Appropriate pricing policy for nomad’s organic products in the local markets will empower nomads and will improve their social status.

In this study the effects of different geographical aspects (north and south-east faced slopes) and grazing intensities (light, moderate and heavy grazing intensities) on the growth condition of Festuca ovina L. in Sabalan rangelands were investigated. Total rangeland productions under various grazing intensities and rangeland conditions (e.g. good, fair and poor) were measured by establishing 30 plots in each aspect. Three transects with 50 meters lengths were established in various grazing intensities on both aspects. Ten F. ovina bunches were selected randomly and their above and below grounds were collected, air dried and weighed in the flowering stage. Quantitative traits such as the species above and belowground dry matter, root length, aerial height, inflorescence length under various grazing intensities and aspects were measured. According to ANOVA, the species mean dry matters were significantly different in various grazing intensities and aspects (p<0.01). The measured traits under the same grazing intensities were higher in south-east aspect compared to the north aspects. The measured traits of the species were differed significantly under heavy grazing pressure between the various slope sites (p<0.01). This study highlights physiological and morphogenesis responses of F. ovina to grazing pressure and environmental properties such as sunlight and aspects. This information can be used to achieve sound management strategies in Sabalan rangelands.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the tolerance of various plant species to heavy metals in oil polluted region of Pazanan Gachsaran. Three zones with various distances from highly polluted area were selected including 0 to 500 m, 500 to 1000 m and 1000 to 1500 m from pollution sources. Thirty plots of 2×2 were established in each transect and their vegetation characteristics were measured. Fifteen soil samples were collected and ICP- OES Instrument was used to measure Ni and Pb contents. Translocation Factor, Bio Concentration Factor and Biological Accumulation Coefficient indicators were used to evaluate the potential of 24 plant species from 12 families to absorb heavy metals. Results showed that the concentration of total and exchangeable soil Pb and Ni varied significantly between the various pollution zones. Xanthium spinosum L., Alhagi camelorum, Sinapis arvensis L., Calotropis procera L., Stipagrostisplumosa, Avena fatua L and Cynodon dactylon have Hyperaccumulator characteristics for Pb absorption Stipagrostis plumosa, Calotropis procera L., Xanthium spinosum L., Centaurea iberica, Sinapis arvensis L., Stipa capensis and Cynodon dactylon were identified as plant species with high accumulating potential for Ni. According to the results, some plant such as Stipagrostis plumosa, Calotropis procera L. and Sinapis arvensis L. have high potential for phytoremedation purposes and can be recommended in soil, contaminated soil containing Ni and Pb.

Holistic approach in natural resources management means considering environmental, economical, technical and social issues and at the same time sustainability of this resources for future generations. Integrated natural resources management provides managers, decision makers and planners new insights using cooperative approach which depend on systematic and integrated solution solving. Key actors recognition is required for implementation of adaptive co-management of these resources. Therefore; based on social network analysis, it is possible to determine key actors for environmental decisions. In this article, social powers have characterized based on social network analysis approach at local stakeholders' level in Kalak customary bordered area of Kodir village, Mazandaran province. Firstly, natural resources utilizers in the study area have identified based on filed surveys and then trust and collaboration matrices have produced using data from the collected questionnaires. In the next step, Centrality Index has measured and finally geometric position of the actors have specified. The results showed that the centrality index is effective for recognition of actors, who are in a central position and have a key role in co-management of highland rangelands of Kodir village. This research also identifies social powers in Kalak customary bordered area. Natural resources managers and planners could refer to these persons for implementing sustainable management projects.

Limited information about long-term changes in soil organic carbon in meadow ecosystems is available. The aim of this study was to simulate the dynamics of soil organic carbon in meadows to assist managers for better understanding the functionality of these ecosystems. CENTURY model was used to simulate the dynamics of soil organic carbon in Dehgolan meadows in Kurdistan province.Climate, soil and management input data for CENTURY model were collected and the model performance was evaluated. Various management scenarios were considered including forage harvesting, low, moderate and heavy grazing, and modification of meadow into wheat and alfalfa field. The results showed that CENTURY model predicted soil organic carbon with appropriate accuracy level (r2 =0.84, RMSE ˂ RMSE 0.05). The model predicted that soil organic carbon content under Scenario 1 (continuing previous management of the harvested forage) in the period from 2014 to 2100 will be reduced by about 15%. The model predicted that soil organic carbon loss in scenario 2 (low grazing) was estimated as low as 2 percent. Reducing the amount of soil organic carbon content under Scenario 3 (moderate grazing), 4 (high grazing), 5 (cultivation of alfalfa) and 6 (cultivation of wheat) was predicted as 23, 25, 47 and 100 percent respectively. Overall, it can be concluded that different management practices have considerable influence on the soil organic carbon dynamics in meadow ecosystems. Low grazing pressure can be suggested as the best management scenario for maintaining soil organic carbon and functionality in meadow ecosystems.

Qualitative assessment of rangeland health has been introduced as an appropriate guide for rangeland managers to evaluate the effects of their management practices. This study investigated the efficiency of rangeland health method to assess rangeland functionality in summer rangelands of Subatan- Talesh. The study area has wet-cold climate. Soil and site stability, hydrologic function and biotic integrity of rangelands were evaluated using 17 ecological indicators in reference, long term exclosure (resting from grazing for 10 years) and overgrazed sites. The results showed that soil stability, hydrologic function and biotic integrity were in healthy condition in exclosure site and in unhealthy condition in the overgrazed site. In general, rangeland health model was able to detect functionality status of sites under various management practices. Results indicated that rangeland health was more sensitive to biotic indices compared to other indices. Rill erosion, water flow pattern, gully and wind erosion were identified as the least important rangeland health indicators in the study area. The results of this study can be used as a guideline to adapt range health model.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of beneficiaries' social condition on ecological sustainability of allotments, utilized by Shahsavan nomads in summer rangelands of Sabalan Mountain, Ardabil province. Random sampling method was used to collect data from 58 beneficiaries based on Cochran’s formula. The collected social data were age, utilization history, educational status and the number of persons that their expenditures are covered by one beneficiary. Ten indicators were selected to evaluate the ecological sustainability in the study area. According to the results, there was no significant relationship between educational status and sustainability index because the majority of the people (82%) had low or no education background. According to the results, there were significant relationships between family members and experience of herd management with sustainability index (p˂0.01). ANOVA test showed that there were significant differences between the sustainability of range allotments and the utilization history (F=13.27 and p£0.001). This study revealed that more range sustainability can be achieved in range allotments with longer utilization history.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of beneficiaries' social condition on ecological sustainability of allotments, utilized by Shahsavan nomads in summer rangelands of Sabalan Mountain, Ardabil province. Random sampling method was used to collect data from 58 beneficiaries based on Cochran' s formula. The collected social data were age, utilization history, educational status and the number of persons that their expenditures are covered by one beneficiary. Ten indicators were selected to evaluate the ecological sustainability in the study area. According to the results, there was no significant relationship between educational status and sustainability index because the majority of the people (82%) had low or no education background. According to the results, there were significant relationships between family members and experience of herd management with sustainability index (p˂0.01). ANOVA test showed that there were significant differences between the sustainability of range allotments and the utilization history (F=13.27 and p≤0.001). This study revealed that more range sustainability can be achieved in range allotments with longer utilization history.

Species abundance distribution models are used to detect plant communities’ structure. The ecological niche of species is related to species abundance distribution. Several niche apportionment models were introduced to reveal the abundance distribution of species in different ecosystems. Ecological niche apportionment models have been presented based on the assumption that species abundance is a ratio of resources (niche) that allocated to a species when it is introduced to a new community. This study aimed to evaluate the applications of RIOUS niche apportionment models including Dominance decay, MacArthur fraction, Power fraction, Random fraction, Random assortment, and Dominance per-emption in highland mountain, cold steppe, and semi-steppe plant communities of Charmahal va Bakhtiyari province. Vegetation data was collected in each site using 60 plots with size of 1 m2 , placed along six 100m transects. Data analysis was performed in R software and “nicheApport” package according to Monte-Carlo test. The results showed that both MacArthur fraction and power fraction models were fitted appropriately to the observed frequency of species distribution in different bioclimatic regions. The results of both species abundance model and MacArthur fraction model indicated the high evenness characteristics in the study area. The results suggested that ecological niche models of species abundance provide suitable tools for determining patterns and structure of plant communities, especially in highland mountain and cold Steppe ecosystems.