Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
- Zohreh Azizzadeh 1
- Majid Mohammad Esmaili 1
- Ali Sattarian 2
- Seyed Ali Hosseini 3
- Bahareh Bahmanesh 1
1 Department of Rangeland and Watershed, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Gonbad Kavos University, Gonbad Kavos, Iran
2 Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences and Engineering, Gonbad Kavous University, Gonbad Kavous, Iran
3 Research Group, Golestan Province Natural Resources and Agriculture Research Institute, Gorgan, Iran
Abstract
Overgrazing is one of the most important factors in the degradation of semi-arid rangelands, which disrupts hydrological processes and ecosystem stability by changing the characteristics of plant patches and reducing soil permeability. Although previous studies have examined the effect of livestock grazing on the permeability or structure of patches separately, the simultaneous relationship between these two components, especially in semi-arid conditions, has received less attention. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different intensities of livestock grazing on soil permeability and the dimensions of plant patches in Gomishan rangelands. This experiment was conducted as a factorial in a completely randomized design with three replications and in three treatments: long-term enclosure (24 years), moderate grazing, and heavy grazing. In each treatment, three 50-meter transects were constructed in different directions, and the length, width, and height of plant patches and the distances between them were measured. Soil permeability in vegetation patches and inter-patch spaces was measured using paired rings and estimated using the Kostyakov (years) model. The results showed that long-term grazing significantly increased soil permeability and vegetation patch dimensions, while no significant difference was observed between moderate and heavy grazing. Also, with increasing grazing intensity, the response of vegetation patches to microtopography decreased, and this effect was maintained only in some indicators (such as patch length) and at higher elevations. The findings of this study emphasize the importance of long-term grazing in restoring vegetation cover and improving soil permeability, and can be used as a basis for planning sustainable livestock grazing management in semi-arid regions. Also, implementing grazing rotation programs, establishing periodic grazing, and regular monitoring of soil physical indicators can help reduce the degradation process and increase ecosystem efficiency in these areas.
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