Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Scientific Board of Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Iran

2 Assistant Professor, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, University of Gorgan, Iran

3 M.A., Range Management, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran

Abstract

Due to the growing trend of rangelands degradation, study effects of different harvesting intensities on species in order to gain a more fundamental utilization of ranglands can be effective for reclamation and improvement. The purpose of this research was to study effects of different harvesting intensities on key species Ajuga chamaecistus.This species has a forage value in the study area. In this first region and a key area of one hectare in area Kordan and in the first year and was grazed, and fencing. Selected and removed from any of 0, 25, 50, 75% and control is exercised (a basic 10 treatments). Monthly by the clipper and the area is grazing season. Effect of harvest was study with the changes in the characteristics the species treated, including; forage and seed production, vitality, mortality and growth of shoots. Finally, production data the combined analysis of data with a split plot design and seed production, vitality, mortality and growth of shoots data in SAS software was analysed. Results of studies of the effects on forage production and harvest of Ajuga chamaecistus species showed the effect of different levels, different years, and their interactions on the production level is a significant percentage. This shows that in different years with different weather conditions of production are different. Also results of the analysis data showed seed production, vitality, mortality and growth of shoots are affected different levels of harvest and weather conditions. In general according to results indicated the negative effects harvesting at the level 75% was observed. In other words, heavy grazing has a negative impact on the species treated. So harvesting up 75% endangering the survival of these species and in fact, harvesting 50 percent it is not a serious problem.

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