AliB. Mirgalili; MohammadR. Fazelpoor; fariba zakizadeh
Abstract
Grazing animals affect rangeland vegetation structure and function both directly and indirectly.These effects can be assessed in exclosures. In this study, vegetation changes inside and outside ofexclosures of Tanglaybid rangelands, located in south-western part of Yazd province, have beeninvestigated. ...
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Grazing animals affect rangeland vegetation structure and function both directly and indirectly.These effects can be assessed in exclosures. In this study, vegetation changes inside and outside ofexclosures of Tanglaybid rangelands, located in south-western part of Yazd province, have beeninvestigated. Vegetation changes study was carried out in 3 key areas inside and also 3 key areasoutside of exclosure and lasted for 5 years (2000-2005). Every key area included 3 transects of 100meters long and 40 meters intervals. The transects were selected vertical to slope, including 10fixed plots (2×1 m2). Vegetation cover, density and frequency percentage of each plot species weremeasured annually. The random- systematic method was applied as a sampling method. Vegetationchanges inside and outside of exclosure were assessed, in a completely random plan, applyingDuncan's test (P < 0.05). The results showed that vegetation cover percentages increasedsignificantly (P < 0.05), inside the exclosure comparing to outside of it. Mean coverage of annualand perennial grasses and also bushes, inside the exclosure comparing to its outside increased 47,38 and 7%, respectively. Thus, in present research, exclosure has positive effects on vegetationcover changes of several species. Frequency percentage results showed that there was no significantdifference, inside against outside the exclosure in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004. Regardingdensity, there was significant difference only in 2001.The results can be considered in futuremanagement of the area's rangelands and similar regions throughout Iran
