Hosseini, S., Khatir Namany, J., Akbarzadeh, M. (2012). Studying the Vegetation Changes of Natural Rangelands in Inche Shorezar of Agh Ghala, North Golestan Province, Iran. Journal of Rangeland Science, 2(4), 615-624.
Seyyed Ali Hosseini; Jamshid Khatir Namany; Morteza Akbarzadeh. "Studying the Vegetation Changes of Natural Rangelands in Inche Shorezar of Agh Ghala, North Golestan Province, Iran". Journal of Rangeland Science, 2, 4, 2012, 615-624.
Hosseini, S., Khatir Namany, J., Akbarzadeh, M. (2012). 'Studying the Vegetation Changes of Natural Rangelands in Inche Shorezar of Agh Ghala, North Golestan Province, Iran', Journal of Rangeland Science, 2(4), pp. 615-624.
Hosseini, S., Khatir Namany, J., Akbarzadeh, M. Studying the Vegetation Changes of Natural Rangelands in Inche Shorezar of Agh Ghala, North Golestan Province, Iran. Journal of Rangeland Science, 2012; 2(4): 615-624.
Studying the Vegetation Changes of Natural Rangelands in Inche Shorezar of Agh Ghala, North Golestan Province, Iran
1Golestan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center
2Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands
Abstract
Studies on vegetation changes of rangelands under grazed and non-grazed conditions are of great importance in the range management planning programs. To determine the change process of vegetation, this study was performed in Inche Shorezar site of Golestan province for nine years (1997-2005). The vegetation parameters were measured every year in several fixed plots inside and adjacent of exclosures. The canopy cover of each species was estimated in each plot. Forage production was randomly measured on one meter square plots in each year using the clipping and weighing method. Correlations between canopy cover of species and growth forms with the rainfall of different months and periods were calculated using SPSS software. Results showed that total canopy cover in 2005 was significantly higher than 1997 both inside and adjacent of exclosures which has been mainly related to increased annual plant cover but the perennial canopy cover was decreased in these years. Perennial species of (class I) did not grow inside the fixed plots. Cover of increasers (class II) species was reduced from the first year to the final one for both inside and adjacent of exclosures. However, the cover of (class III) species in the final year was not significantly increased than that for the first year. Forage production generally was higher inside than adjacent of exclosures. Litter increased during the study period for both inside and adjacent. Litter was significantly higher inside of exclosures than adjacent in 2005. Although the plant canopy cover was affected by rainfall but correlation coefficient was statistically significant only for total, annual and some perennial canopy cover species. Although total and annual cover was high inside and adjacent of exclosures in 2005, the cover of perennials was decreased. By the reduction of palatable species, unpalatable species were increased inside and adjacent. Although by increasing the plant cover, the range condition was relatively improved, this improvement was achieved by the increase in the annuals instead of perennials. It was concluded that the exclosure cannot be used as a range improvement method to improve these rangelands’ conditions. For the rehabilitation of these areas, human interference is necessary.
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