Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Ph.D. graduated of Range Science, Specialized department of Forests, Rangeland and Watersheds, Faculty of Natural Resources and the Environment, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

2 Professor, Department of Reclamation of Arid and Mountainous Regions, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran.

3 Associate Professor, Faculty of Natural Resources and the Environment, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

4 Associated Professor, Soil Conservation and Watershed Management Research Institute (SCWMRI), Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Tehran, Iran

10.22059/jrwm.2020.312278.1544

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the condition and management of rangeland before and after replacing the soil condition assessment method in the soil factor of the four-factor method in order to determine the most appropriate rangeland condition method. Rangeland status assessment was performed for both conditions in Poshtkuh rangelands of Mazandaran and then the status, rangeland management methods and their management and improvement programs were proposed and compared with each other. The results of rangeland condition assessment before replacing the soil condition assessment method in soil factor showed that rangelands had poor and very poor condition with a negative tendency and artificial rangeland management method and rehabilitation programs, mulching and seeding were proposed. The results of rangeland condition assessment after replacing the soil condition assessment method in the soil factor showed that the rangeland condition was in the middle and poor class, for which natural and artificial rangeland management methods were proposed, respectively. For the natural rangeland method, periodic-delayed and periodic-rest grazing systems were proposed based on the average status of the rangeland, and the breeding programs of the artificial rangeland method have not changed and are the same as the previous method. The results of comparative statistical analysis showed that there was a significant difference between the mean score of soil factor before and after replacement in the 95% confidence interval, . This method can be used as a method based on quantitative-qualitative evaluation to identify the functional and structural characteristics of ecosystems.

Keywords

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