JOURNAL OF RANGELAND SCIENCE
Year:2015 | Volume:5 | Issue:4|Papers Count:10

The book is an ambitious attempt to cover a very wide range of topics related to Biodiversity Conservation and Land Protection and to serve the interests of a wide variety of plants, ecosystems, managements, rangelands and livestock. Central Asia is vast, and the environmental diversity reflects the contrasts that give rise within the region of the coldest and hottest deserts, extensive steppe, grasslands and rangelands, alpine meadows, glacier fields, and mountains and plains. It is this great variation in geography, topography, and climate that provides the rich and unique diversity found in the region’s ecosystems. There is great disparity too in the ethnicity of its peoples and the economic status of the various countries within the region. The pressures on these rich natural resources (including water from the high mountains) and environmental systems generally have, however, been increasing over the past few decades. Rapid population growth, urbanization, rising economic output, and more consumptive lifestyles, coupled with increasing incidence of poverty, have all contributed to the region’s struggle to adjust to the market economy and the demands of the increasingly disenfranchised citizens, especially those on or just above the poverty line.

Plant life and food production for human closely depend on fertile and healthy soil. Knowledge about qualitative properties of soil and its potential production can contribute us in the plantation, fertilization, utilization and land management. In addition, Rangelands cover a very large portion of the earth's surface and play an important role in food security and other ecosystem services. Therefore, the present study has been conducted in order to evaluate soil quality according to minimum data set in Karvan rangeland which is located in the west of Isfahan province, Iran. For this aim, three vegetation types including Scariola orientalis-Astragalus gossypinus (Sc.or-As.go), Psathyrostachys fragile-Astragalus gossypinus (Psa.fr-As.go) and Cousinia bachtiarica-Astragalus gossypinus (Cu.ba-As.go) were selected in the study area. Then, four transects were established by a random systematic sampling; bias was placed to the general and lateral slope at the each vegetation type. The soil samples were taken at the start and end of each transect from two different depths (0-20 and 20-75 cm). Soil samples were analyzed and the physicochemical factors such as texture (silt, clay and sand), pH, Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), potassium (K), Organic Carbon (OC) and Organic Matter (OM) were measured. Then, Soil Quality (SQ) indices were calculated using Bajracharya formula. The results showed that soil of the study area had a poor quality and also, there was different soil qualities regarding three vegetation types. It was found that OC (or OM) and N had maximum limitations on soil of Karvan region and caused low SQ indices. Also, pH only without any limitations was put in the highest rank for SQ measuring.

Chemical assessments of forage clearly determine the forage quality; however, traditional methods of analysis are somehow time consuming, costly, and technically demanding. Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy (NIRS) has been reported as a method for evaluating chemical composition of agriculture products, food, and forage and has several advantages over chemical analyses such as conducting cost-effective and rapid analyses with non-destructive sampling and small number of samples. This study aims to estimate Nitrogen (N) and Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF) content of grass species using NIRS. A total of 171 samples of grasses (Poaceae) at vegetative, flowering, and seeding stages were collected from different regions in Iran. The samples were scanned in a NIRS DA 7200 (Perten instruments, Sweden) in a range of 950-1650 nm. The sample set consisted of 110 samples for calibration and 61 samples for validation was used to predict N and ADF. Samples were previously analyzed chemically for Nitrogen (N) and Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF) and then were scanned by NIRS. Calibration models between chemical data and NIRS were developed using partial least squares regression with the internal cross validation. The coefficients of determination (r2) of linear regression between chemical analyses and NIRS were 0.90 and 0.94 for N and ADF, respectively. The standard errors of prediction were 0.30% and 3.10% for N and ADF, respectively. The results achieved from this study indicated that NIRS has a potential to be used in the measurement of N and ADF contents regarding the forage samples.

Harvester ants are known as one of the most renowned bio-disturbances in the arid and semi-arid ecosystems that affecte vegetation by collecting seeds and harvesting plants. It seems that physiognomy of plant association in steppe shrub land of Roodshoor, Saveh Iran has been highly changed by harvester ants‟ activities that caused to conduct this research. The study was carried out on active and inactive nests and control site from June to August 2012. Diversity indices and functional groups such as vegetative form, longevity, and photosynthesis type were analyzed as compared to criteria in three sites. Results showed that richness, diversity, and vegetation cover in the ant colonies through increasing the annual forbs and rare species (Campanula stricta and Lepidium vesicarium) were more than the control site. For evenness index, however, there was no significant difference between the control and nest sites. In contrast, the function of plant community in the active nests due to the decrease of dominant shrub frequency of the area that is Artimisia siberi by Messor spp. was less than the control site. Low diversity, richness, plant function, and high vegetation cover in inactive nests were also observed as the results of the presence and activities of the ants in the active nests. Hence, the ant activities in the active and inactive nests can bring out micro sites with different plant associations so that regarding high density and quantity of the ant nests in all the area, it can decrease the key plants and change their functions. It therefore will debilitate the stability and function of this rangeland ecosystem.

Forests and rangelands are the most important natural ecosystems which provide many economic benefits to the society due to their biodiversity and ecological functionalities. Dashtenaz wildlife refuge, Sari, is a sylvan region, covering 55 ha of rangeland with abundant diversity, is refuge of an endangered species of deer called Dama mesopotamica. In this study, Contingent Valuation Method (CVM) and dichotomous choice were used to estimate the conservation value of this region in 2014. Moreover, the Logit regression model has been used to calculate individual’s Willingness to Pay (WTP), and parameters have been estimated based on maximum likelihood method. Firstly 35 questionnaires were distributed among the sample members. Validity and reliability of questionnaire were examined by experts and Cronbach’s Alpha test (0.84), respectively. Cochrane formula and random sampling method were used to estimate the sample size. Then, 429 questionnaires were selected in the cities surrounding rangeland (Sari, Behshahr, Miandorood, and Neka). Results showed that 77% of respondents were willing to pay for conserving the rangeland. On the other hand, variables such as bid (the amount of money proposed to respondents to pay for conserving rangeland), monthly income, level of responsibility, financial capability, environmental orientations, the number of visits and educations had significant impact on individual’s WTP for area conservation at 1 to 10 percent level. In addition, per capita WTP for conserving Dashtenaze Sari has been calculated about 0.3 $ monthly and the annual value of Dashtenaze Sari per hectare was 18125 $.

Plant diversity is essential to maintain the health of planet's ecosystems. Conservation of biodiversity is necessary for the ecological stability and productivity in natural ecosystems. The aim of this research was to study the biodiversity and richness of plant species (including trees, shrubs and grasses) related to the environmental factors (soil and physiography) in the forests of Zagros, west of Iran. This study was conducted in Manesht-Ghalarang protected area in the north of Ilam province, Iran. For this purpose, some plots with a systematic distribution were selected and vegetation (trees and herbaceous), soil factors (organic matter, pH, electrical conductivity, limestone, nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, bulk density and soil texture) and physiographic ones (slope, aspect and elevation from sea level) were measured. Results showed that the diversity of ground vegetation had a negative correlation with sand percent and it was decreased by the increased slope, elevation, EC percent and silt percent in the southern aspect. In the northern aspects, richness and diversity of ground vegetation were decreased with the increased elevation from sea level. While the tree species diversity was increased by increasing the elevation. In western aspects, the biodiversity of herbaceous species increased as CaCo3 and organic matter were increased and salinity and elevation from sea level decreased. Also, the diversity of tree species in these aspects had positive reactions to potassium percent in soil.

Natural resources have been attracted a great deal of attentions and have been frequently exploited for many years. Dust is one of natural disasters mainly in recent years; here, in south west of Iran, it had destroyed the rangelands. The dust has detrimental effects on the rangelands, livestock and livestock production. High concentrations of dust may lead to the coughing, nasal discharge, wheezing and increased effort to breathe. Dust can weaken the immune system and expose livestock to infectious diseases and bacteria and eventually cause death. In order to assess the dust impact on rangeland and livestock production, this study was conducted according to the pastoralist opinions. The statistical population involved the pastoralists of Andimeshk with a grazing license in south west of Iran. According to Natural Resources Department, 474 pastoralists had grazing license.110 people for the samples were selected. The reliability of questionnaire was assessed using Cronbach's alpha coefficient (a=0 82) Pastoralists believed that the greatest impact of dust is on the forage palatability in a way that livestock avoided grazing the dusty plants. Pastoralists believed that dust in winter has a greater impact on the plant than that in summer because in most tropical regions, the vegetative growth is occurred in winter. In this study, the pastoralist score given as 4.33 out of 5 implies that dust can cause the deterioration and destruction of livestock teeth due to grazing dusty plants so that the teeth get worn out over time resulting in the fact that young livestock may be removed from herds. Most of people in the desired region did not issue livestock insurance due to cost effectiveness.67% of pastoralists believe that dust reduces the rangeland production and has some devastating impacts on it.68% of pastoralists believe that dust reduces the livestock production and has some devastating impacts on it.

To study the effects of chilling on dormancy breaking and the increased germination characteristics of Nepeta (germination percent and speed, seedling length, vigor index, wet and dry weight), a factorial experiment in a completely randomized design with 4 replications was implemented in a laboratory in 2014. Factor A was the chilling treatment in three levels (control, one-month and two-month pre-chilling of wet seeds at 4oC) and factor B was related to the seeds of 10 different species of genus Nepeta. After chilling, seeds of control were placed in a germinator for 15 days at 20°C and lightto- dark cycle of 16 hours light (1000 lux) to 8 hours dark. The results showed that chilling treatments had significant effects (p<0.01) on germination percent, germination speed, vigor index and fresh weight, but they had no effects on the seedling length. The chilling effects on germination percent showed that one-month chilling had a positive effect on N.haussknechtii with 40% and N. menthoides with 36.5% and two-month chilling had a positive effect on N. haussknechtii with 43%. The two-month chilling effect on germination speed was positive for most species. Generally, one-month chilling had positive effects on the increased seed vigor index of N. betonicifolia, N. haussknechtii and N. menthoidesand by 20.48%, 25.33% and 17.99%, respectively as compared to that of control treatment and two-month chilling had positive effects on the increased fresh weight of N. cataria, N. haussknechtii, N. pungens, N. menthoides and N. crassifolia.

carbon sequestration in rangeland ecosystems has been identified as a suitable strategy to offset greenhouse gas emissions and information on carbon sequestration hotspots is a good tool to improve rangeland management. Objectives for this study were to assessment potential carbon sequestration in various rangeland types, to identify carbon sequestration hotspots and to study the effective factor on hotspots in semiarid rangeland of Kerman province. The content of above and underground biomass and litter carbon by Ash method and soil carbon by Walcky-Black method were determined in 300 plots 2m×2m scattered randomly in rangeland types in 2014. Results showed that rangeland types had significant effect on carbon sequestration as Zygophyllum eurypterum-Artemisia sieberi, Artemisia sieberi-Pteropyrum aucheri, Astragalus microcephalus –Stipa barbata, Artemisa sieberi and Artemisia sieberi- Salsola brachiata respectively with 65.84, 53.92, 43.32, 33.17 and 24.77 (T/ha) regarding the highest and lowest carbon sequestration amounts. Carbon sequestration hotspots and coldspots were mapped by using hotspots analysis. Zygophyllum eurypterum-Artemisia sieberi and small parts of both types Artemisia sieberi-Pteropyrum aucheri and Astragalus microcephalus–Stipa barbata with 65.34 (T/ha) were carbon sequestration hotspots. Majority of Artemisia sieberi-Salsola brachiata and small parts of Artemisa sieberi with 23.78 (T/ha) included carbon sequestration coldspots. PCA analysis also showed that life form, clay and vegetation cover were the most important factors influencing on the hotspots. It was concluded that soil characters also play effective roles to stock carbon in semiarid rangeland ecosystems although rangeland types demined with Phanerophyte species had a greater probability of being identified as carbon sequestration hotspots.

The arid zone encompasses land that has an imbalance between precipitation and losses through evaporation. Globally, arid zones comprise large part of many countries in the mid-latitudes in both the Northern and the Southern hemispheres. Both Australia and Iran are countries with a large arid zone. This negative water balance in the arid zone affects the type of land use in these countries. At the driest end of the spectrum only the hardiest livestock, camels, and some locally adapted sheep and goats provide subsistence to nomadic peoples. In other parts of the arid zone, the search for forage and water has generated development of a number of management systems involving nomadic, seminomadic and settled herding practices. Maximum forage productivity of livestock in the rangeland depends on the amount of water to which the livestock has access. Livestock can use the range forage in the best way with no harms to the rangeland in order to produce the maximum livestock products if there are enough water resources. Due to the limited drinking water resources in the arid regions and the range ecosystem sensitivity in these regions, the optimum use and in general, water resources management are of considerable importance. Adaptations of livestock and people are discussed here before attention is turned to the impact of livestock on the resource base that is the vegetation (principally forage/browse) and water on which the pastoralists depend.