PROSOPIS JULIFLORA is a shrub belonging to the family Fabaceae. It is native to Mexico, South Amer-ica and the Caribbean. It has become established as an invasive weed in Africa, Asia, Australia and elsewhere. P. JULIFLORA is located in Sahara-Sindian climatic region as a resistant species against the salinity. Its habitats in Iran are limited to Hormozgan and Sistan and Balochestan provinces. Algarobius PROSOPIS (LeConte) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is reported for the first time as a seed beetle from the collected pods and seeds of P. JULIFLORA from Hormozgan province.

In this research, physical, biometrical and chemical properties of PROSOPIS JULIFLORA wood as well as physical and mechanical properties of kraft pulp from this species were investigated and calculated. Dry and critical densities of PROSOPIS JULIFLORA were 0.806 and 0.696 g/cm3, respectively. Fiber length was 895mm, and cellulose, lignin, extractives, and ash were 48.80%, 23.66%, 3.88%, and 1.1%, respectively. The preparation conditions of Kraft pulp were as follows: effective alkaline 14, 16 and 18%, cooking time 120 and 180 min, temperature of cooking 170 and 180oC and L/W ratio 5 to 1. After calculating the amounts of yield and Kappa number of pulps, two treatments were determined. The freeness of two pulps was achieved approximately 400 (CSF) by refining. Then, physical and mechanical properties of the handsheets were calculated. Finally, statistical analysis of pulp and handsets data were performed by completely randomized factorial, duncan and T-test methods. The results showed that the handsheets resulted from produced Kraft pulp under the following conditions had better mechanical properties: effective alkaline of 18%, cooking time of 120 minutes, and cooking temperature of 180oC. The investigation results showed that PROSOPIS JULIFLORA of south regions of the country has suitable properties for Kraft pulp preparation in comparison to other similar hardwood species and development of its planting is recommended in the region.

The aim this study was to investigate effects of PROSOPIS cineraria (L. ) Druce and PROSOPIS JULIFLORA (Sw. ) DC on physiochemical characteristics of soil and compare them with open area in mixed stand of south forest of Iran. For this purpose, we selected 15 p. cineraria and p. JULIFLORA in the mixed forest of Sirik, Hormoazgan province. Then combinative soil samples were randomly collected in four geographical directions (10cm depth) under each tree and open area in spring, 2018 and were transferred to the laboratory in order to be measured pH, soil moisture, organic matter, electric conductivity, calcium, sodium, potassium and magnesium. Result sowed that all soil characteristics (except for pH) are higher under tree than those in open area (p<0. 05). Also magnesium, organic matter and moisture with the amounts of 72. 23 mg/L, 1. 32% and 15. 00% were highest under p. cineraria crown. Amounts of potassium, sodium and magnesium (239. 7, 174. 93 and 206. 75mg/L) were highest under p. JULIFLORA crown. In addition, EC (2. 32 ds/m) increased and pH (7. 10) decreased than those in open area significantly. In according to this study, p. cineraria and p. JULIFLORA influence on soil ochemical characteristics (except for pH and EC) positively but totally due to remarkable effect of p. cineraria on key characteristics of soil moisture and organic matter and negative effects of p. JULIFLORA on electrical conductivity increase in sensitive ecosystem of south of Iran, afforestation by native species is preferred than to exotic species.

The aim of this study was to examine use of PROSOPIS julifora pods (PJP) in lactating goats (twenty lactating Tali goats with body weight mean of 34± 2. 5 kg) diet. Goats were divided in two groups )ten heads per each), one group with control diet and the other group with PROSOPIS julifora and fed for 12 weeks. Diets were prepared based on goats’ requirements from both forage and concentrate with equal proportion. PJP rate in total experimental diet was 19. 25%. Animals were weighed individually the beginning of the trial and every two weeks until the end of period. Their weight changes were calculated. Also, their weekly milk production rate and milk compositions were determined. The average daily milk yield and milk fat percent in fed goats with control diet and PJP diet was 550 and 570g, and 3. 24% and 2. 39%, respectively that weren’ t statistically different. Milk compositions (fat, protein, ash, solid material and solid material without fat) weren’ t affected by the diet. The body weight during experimental period, also between two groups was not different statistically. Total cost of feed and milk production of fed goats with 20% PJP diet was cheaper than control group. Therefore, PJP can be used as a feedstuff up to 20 % in lactating goats’ diet and reduce nutrition cost.

In this research, the effects of PROSOPIS JULIFLORA on annual natural vegetation, soil properties and farm land in Sirik area in the east of Minab, Hormozgan province was carried out in 2001 and 2005. Since natural ecosystems and their stability, especially natural vegetation are a national wealth, it is necessary to evaluate effects of this invasive species. In this research, at two different times (2001 and 2005) percent age of annual vegetation cover including grasses and forbs were measured with plots of 0.5 m2 under canopy cover of P. JULIFLORA and open area, in the study area. Soil samples were taken at 0-15 and 15-30 centimeter depths and in laboratory soil properties measured. Then, using Mini-Tab software, soil and vegetation parameters, in plots sampled, under and outside the canopy cover of this species, were compared with T tests. Results showed that percent of cover of annual vegetation including grasses, forbs and total of percent cover under canopy and open area in years when rainfall is high, have significant difference between percent cover under canopy and open area. Results also show that, there is significant difference in some soil properties such as pH, Electrical conductivity and organic carbon in depth of 0-15 centimeter. Statistical comparison showed pH is decreased in canopy cover and some soil properties such as organic carbon has increased significantly in canopy cover. Despite of the P. JULIFLORA effects on natural environment, because of the natural regeneration, these species regenerate in agricultural lands and gardens with seeds which are transported by water, domestic animals, and wildlife. P. JULIFLORA makes density thicket and reduce table of groundwater. P. JULIFLORA, also, causes undesirable effects on domestic animals, therefore, farmers and ranchers encounter big problem.

Introduction: Invasive species are currently the concern of ecologists, conservationists and natural resource managers, and they may decrease biodiversity due to their rapid spread. These species cause changes in ecological processes, function and structure of communities in natural ecosystems. The most obvious change in the invaded areas is the reduction of biodiversity and the creation of a pure community of invasive plants. One of the invasive species in our country is PROSOPIS JULIFLORA, which is important in the field of combat desertification, biological control and stabilization of quicksand dunes in the southern regions of Iran due to its resistance to adverse environmental conditions. Material and methods: In the present study, the efficiency of five discrimination group models (GLM, GBM, ANN, SRE, RF) and a profile model (MAXENT) and their ensemble with the weighted average approach in the spatial distribution of this species in Makuran region and determining the most important environmental factors affecting the invasion distribution were investigated. By recording 63 occurrence points and 100 absence points, using climatic, physiographic and human variables as environmental variables, and evaluating the performance of models by Area under Curve (AUC), True Skill Statistics (TSS), Sensitivity and Specificity, the species invasion potential was determined. Results and discussion: Among the single algorithms, according to the threshold-independent and threshold-dependent evaluation criteria, two machine learning techniques, i.e. RF and GBM, predicted the climatic habitat of this invasive species with higher accuracy. Also, the evaluation criteria in the ensemble prediction were higher than the average of all single modeling algorithms. According to the ensemble model, P. JULIFLORA habitats occupy about 15% of the total study area. After generalization of the models to the geographical space, it was found that the invaded areas have spread in a uniform strip on the shores of the Oman Sea and the Persian Gulf. Evaluation of variable importance indicated that altitude was the most important independent variable justifying about half of the changes in the ensemble model and has the greatest effect on species distribution. The variable of distance from the road was the next important variable. However, the aspect was mentioned as the least important environmental variable affecting the scattering of the invasion. Based on response curves, the maximum probability of the species' presence was observed at the altitude of 50 m above sea level and a distance less than 50 m from the road. Also, the species is most likely to be present, if the temperature in the warmest month and the coldest season of the year is more than 34 and 14 °C, respectively, and the precipitation seasonality is 100-150. Conclusion: It was found that the integrated algorithms in the framework of ensemble modeling showed higher accuracy and the maps derived from the potential distribution of species invasion make it possible to restrict and manage the distribution range of invasive species by providing management solutions and conserving plans to protect native species. In fact, the results of this study can be used as a basis for subsequent monitoring to prevent further spread of invasive species and to create a balance between the native vegetation protection programs of the region and desertification management measures.