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Valuation of different range management effect on reclamation of soil and vegetation cover In Sirjan Rangelands Mahdieyeh Ebrahimi PhD Student Tehran University, Iran Email: maebrahimi2007@yahoo.com
Mohammah Jafari Professor, College of Natural Resources university of Tehran Tehran University
Hossein Azarnivand Assistant Professor, College of Natural Resources university of Tehran Tehran University
Ahmad Madahi
Head Natural Resources Office of Sirjan County Abstract In order to valuation effects of rangeland improvemental practices on some parameters of soil and vegetation cover were studied (2004-2005) in the rangelands of sirjan. In the study 4 improvemental practices include: enclosure, gorab (water point), Alfalfa planting and Wheat grass planting were selected and next to every site that improvemental practices were done in it, sites were selected as controlled ones that were adjacent two by two. Vegetation cover sampling was done with 50 plots of 1m2 in every site by random systematic method and soil sampling after excavation and sampling from the depth of 0-30 and 30-60 cm of the soil were done. Vegetation cover and soil data was analyzed by means of software SPSS by using of non-paired t test and variance analysis (RCBD). Obtained results showed that improvemental practices done have had significant effect on increasing of canopy percentage, yield, vegetation density of I and II class and decreasing of III class vegetation (1%Level). The investigation of studied soil specification with t test showed that nutritive elements of nitrogen, phosphor, potassium and organic matter had significant difference between every treatment site and its controlled site (5%level). The results of variance Analysis of variation (ANOVA) about soil parameters in 2 depths investigated showed significant difference in OM/N/P/K and Ca% among 4 sites. In the total results of study showed that 4 improvemental practices done have had positive effect on vegetation cover and soil specification in the rangelands of sirjan region. Introduction Correction of rangeland is a series of practices that to be performed in every area in order increase production by regarding to the ecological condition and the main purpose is to reach to a plant community that the plants of it are useful for domesticated animal, It is elasticity to the grazing and the surface of soil is protected of water and wind erosion (Mesdaghi, 1999). When the source of provender of rangeland are used whiteout any science program, the vegetation cover is reduction. By decreasing of vegetation cover, litter is decreased and it cause erosion. So, runoff is increased and this matter results in washing soil and of course decreasing of influence of water to cause a dry place for plant. By continuing of this matter and intensification of it, the height of rangelands deducted and in these cases resorting to improvement of soil surface (Moghaddam, 2001). Researchers have studied influences of improvemental practices on specifications of vegetation cover and soil of rangeland. For long influence of Enclosure as a improvemental practices, Goldberg and Turner (1986) explained that Enclosure of rangeland at Arizona after 72 years motive increasing density and canopy cover. Stoddart and smith (1975) reported that at Australia has been successful in sowing the combination of seeds of clover and grass with phosphor fertilizer. Hoveyze et al (2006) by analyzing of influence of enclosure in khozestan rangeland showed that plant density around enclosure has increased up 40% and average of production has been three time more than production in grazing condition. Jafari et al (2003) in analyze of some kind Atriplex lentiformis on parameters vegetation cover explained that covered with bushes, percentage canopy cover and class I plants density is more in comparison with control site. Su et al (2004) in study as comparison of characters of enclosure rangeland soil, hand sowing rangeland, they resulted that amount of organic matter and nitrogen of enclosure area are more than to hand sowing area that the cause this matter is coming back litter and fixing nitrogen by plant, reported that capturing water increase carbon organic in soil of water spreading area. The purpose of this study is valuation of different range management effect on characters of soil and vegetation cover in sirjan rangeland. The area under study This researcher accomplished in rangeland sirjan in south-western Kerman province at 2006. The geographic situation this area is 55° 35¢ 48² eastern long and 29° 28¢ 13² northern wide. The average height of this area to the free surface of sea is 1770 and vertical slope it is between 1650 up to 3850 meters. The mean precipitation in year is 160 mm, minimum and maximum temperature is -16 to +40 c° and semi arid climate with cold and dry winter and hot summers. Method and material For doing this research after field assessment we select 4 improvemental practices: one site enclosure, two site biological practices of cultivating Alfalfa planting and Wheat grass planting and a site gorab (mounds of soil are in figure crescent that create in front of flood) that these practices take long up to 10 years. In order to compare the effect improvemental practices on soil factors and Vegetation cover next to every site improvemental practices were done in it, sites were selected as controlled ones that were adjacent two by two (without improvemental practices). In every site, taking sampling is done in way of systematic casual with 5 transects of 20 m and 50 plot 1m2 .The total transects in 8 site was 40 and total number plot was 400. Inside of every plot, the list existed species, percentage canopy cover, production and density of plant species are measured. For measuring production is used clipping and weighting method. In plots grasses from 1cm of surface soil, forbs from collar and for brushes from growth part of that are collected and on the package, their related information are recorded. After drying of species on basis growth form the production in every plot is calculated on basis production of all palatability species in measuring g/m2 then calculated in site in measure kg/ha, the percentage vegetation cover for every plot is calculated by ocular method and all of plot by measuring number on hectare. It is used for taking sample of soil from taking transects and along every transects, one soil profile is excavated. The total profile was 40. Dimension every profile was 50 × 50 cm and depth of it is considered in taking plant,s until contacting to bed rock and in every profile of depths 0-30 cm and 30- 60 cm soil of sample take place and laboratory factors %N, P(ppm), %OM, EC, %Ca, K(ppm), pH , % sand, %clay, %silt in every sample of soil are determined then Vegetation cover and soil data was analyzed by means of software SPSS by using of non-paired t test and variance analysis (RCBD). Results a- comparison of influence of correcting operation of rangeland on vegetative cover characters. vegetation characters of 8 taking sample site and list of species are in tables no 1 and 2. Table 1- vegetation characters of 8 taking sample sites in sirjan rangeland.  Table 2- floristic list of 8 taking sample sites in sirjan rangelands.  For analyzing influence of improvemental practices on vegetation cover characters, first in sites 4 improvemental practices, vegetation cover characters are compared with control sites by using non-paired t test until being meaningful of effect improvemental practices on vegetation cover characters. So by using variance analysis (RCBD) with tokay test are pay for considering the different place between 4 sites improvemental practices. The results of comparing of plant characters in improvemental practices sites and control sites are brought in table no 3 and 4. Table 3- c omparison of average plant characters in sites improvemental practices with control sites.  *In every column averages with common letter don’t have meaningful difference (1%). In this manner, results of table no 3 show that all plant parameters in case of improvemental practices site have a meaningful difference in 1%Level with control site, so that in enclosure site canopy cover percentage is 49.62 %, production is 50%, density I class species is 36%, density II class species is 28.3% increasing and density III species is decreased up to 66% regarding to control site. The whole plant parameter in gorab site has meaningful difference in 1%Level with control site, so that in mechanical practice gorab (water point), canopy cover percentage is 15.77, production is 31.86 %, density I class species is 9.09% , density II class species is 8% increasing and density III species is decreased up to 70% regarding to control site. Thus, plant parameters in Alfalfa planting site and control site have meaningful difference in 1% level, so that in sowing practice with alfalfa percentage of canopy cover is 31%, production is 83.48%, density I class species is 59%, density II class species is increased up to 47% and density III class species is decreased up to 72% in comparison with control site and whole plant parameters in Wheat grass planting have meaningful difference in 1%Level with control site, in the manner that Wheat grass planting practices, the percentage of canopy cover is 34.34%, production is 64%, density I class species is 36%, density II class species is increased up to 40% and density III species is decreased up to 80% in compare with control site of itself. Table no 4- results of variance analysis of vegetation characters in 4 sites improvemental practices.  * meaningful in 1%Level and n.s meaningless. In every column averages with common letter don’t have meaningful difference (1%). In the manner that results of table no 4 show the average canopy cover percentage and production of plant species in 4 sites improvemental practices has meaningful difference in %5level. In the manner that average of canopy cover percentage in enclosure site, Alfalfa planting and Wheat grass planting was more in compare with gorab site. Maximum amount of production was related to Alfalfa planting site and minimum amount of production was related to gorab site. Except to meaningful difference in amount of conopy cover percentage and production 4 site, the density I class species, density II class species and density III class species did n,t have meaningful difference. b- comparison of effect improvemental practices on soil characters. The result of t test, soil parameters of the related sites improvemental practices have brought in table no 5. Nitrogen, phosphor, potassium and organic matter parameters in depth of 0-30cm have meaningful difference in compare with control sites so that in enclosure site in compare with control site, amounts nitrogen, phosphor, potassium and organic matter was more and in alfalfa planting and Wheat grass planting in compare with control site were more and amount phosphor and potassium was less. By considering the result in depth of 30-60 cm showed that in enclosure site nitrogen, phosphor, organic matter, silt and clay was more than control site and alfalfa planting and Wheat grass planting phosphor, potassium and organic matter regarding to control site were more, but amount potassium and phosphor in compare to with control sites were less.  *In every column averages with common letter don’t have meaningful difference (1%). Table no 6-Results variance analysis soil parameters in 0-30 cm and 30-60 cm depth in improvemental practices sites in sirjan rangelands.  * meaningful in 1%Level and n.s meaningless In every column averages with common letter don’t have meaningful difference (1%). The results of variance analysis 4 sites improvemental practices in table 6 show that amount Nitrogen, phosphor and potassium in enclosure site in 5%level and amount organic matter in 1% level with 3 sites gorab, alfalfa planting and wheat grass planting had meaningful difference so that amount of above factors in enclosure site was more than 3 other sites. Also, results of table no 6 show that in depth 0-30 cm the percentage calcium in soil gorab site in compare with 3 sites had meaningful difference in 5% level and amount calcium in soil of this site was more than 3 sites. In addition to the amount nitrogen and phosphor of soil enclosure site in 0-30 cm had meaningful difference in 5% level to 3 other sites and amount organic matter in alfalfa planting and enclosure sites in comparing to gorab and wheat grass sites was more and had meaningful difference in 1% level. Discussion and Conclusion Conclusion of this study showed that with improvemental practices in this area, vegetation cover including density I class species and density II class species has increased and density III class species has decreased. Subsequently, it is accompanied by increasing the production and percentage canopy cover. During improvemental practices desire species that previously were weak under grazing, is prepared and in species combination has increased. In contrast undesirable species combination decreased that this change confirmatory is positive process of increasing of canopy cover and production in desire species. It includes these results of comparing vegetation cover parameters in table no 3 that whole plant parameters improvemental practices sites and control sites in 1% level are meaningful so that it can be concluded renewal plant life by the way decreasing number domesticated animal. Apply grazing systems improvemental of water sources and complete enclosure is practicable (Mengol, 1991). Like this conclusion, Hoveyze et al (2006) in hkozestan and Goldberg and turner (1986) in Arizona earned, so that enclosure increased the canopy cover. Irregular grazing exit biomass and nutrient from rangeland ecosystem because organic matter is only source nutrient for growing plants, so it seems that this effect why it may in long time it cause lack coming back nutrient that withdrawal of soil by domesticated animal and decrease quality provender and following it decrease domesticated animal production ( Raeesi, 2002). Results of table no 5 showed that from nutrient elements N, P, K and OM meaningful difference is in 5% level between enclosure and control sites in two depth of taking sample. In other words during long time soil enclosure site by nutrient elements N, P, K and OM is richer than soil of control site. So that it can be said that soil enclosure area with grass species, regarding to soils of grazed area with little cover, have organic matter, available water capacity and more accumulated plant root and aeration (Raeesi, 2002). In connection with, . Su in considering enclosure rangeland and hand planted showed that enclosure areas because of coming back of more litter and fixing nitrogen have more organic matter. Good physical properties and more fertility of enclosure area regarding to area under grazing is because of accumulated cover. Amount percentage organic matter soil enclosure area is more than outside of it, following of that amount nitrogen and phosphor of soil have had noticeable changes that its cause is restriction that has changed plant cover and organic matter, nitrogen, potassium of soil are related to existence of more percentage of clay in soil that this subject is related to ability of more keeping of clay (Salardini, 1895) and so that results of table no 5 show that percentage clay in enclosure site has been more than control site and showed meaningful difference in 5% level. Results of table no 3 show the meaningful difference in plant parameters in gorab site and control site in 1% level in another expression in mechanical practice water point, production is 2 times as much and percentage of canopy cover has reached to 1.37 times as much in compare with control site. Ti is clear that if the practice of influence of water be accompanied with biological practice because of change in soil structure, field improvement of soil structure prepares (kholfi et al 2006). Superficially. After building gorab, biological practice of sowing and planting salping in 2 direction gorab is doing and organic matter of soil concluding to biological practice have added to soil that is effective in constancy of structure and stability of aggregates. Organic matter increases ventilation, porosity and filtration (Goodarzi, 2004) and reason increasing of organic matter and nitrogen in soil is beasuse of soil surface carrying from area with organic matter and also improvement vegetation cover is as a result of effect of infiltration water(Naderi, 2000). Results of table no 5 did not show the meaningful difference between improvemental practices sites and control sites in view of EC, %Ca, and pH that main reason it is because of decreasing of rainfall in area and lack of ability to washing of lime from soil (Sarreshtedari, 2004). The resalts of table no 3 showed whole vegetation parameter that measured in alfalfa planting site and Wheat grass Planting in regarding to control sites, cultivating of native plants and imported in desired fields and making layer of above plants in order to protection of soil and water, increase of provender crop and tourism value and if a correct place chooses kind and true applying of cultivating practice will be result of seed accompany with success (Mesdaghi, 1999). Results of table no 4 showed that after seed sowing with alfalfa has reached the production to 11 times as much and canopy cover to 3.27 times as much before seed sowing in compare with control site and conclude to seed sowing with wheat grass, the production has reached to 3 times as much and percentage of control site and accumulation of species of I and II class has increased and density III class species has decreased. The results of table no 5 showed meaningful difference in %5 level in nutrient element N, P, K and OM of soil in alfalfa planting site and control site so that alfalfa planting has caused the increasing nitrogen and organic matter in soil but has caused decrease of potassium and phosphor. There are rizobium bacteria in nodules of alfalfa root that lead to fixing nitrogen and this action related to existence of adequate amount of absorbed phosphor in soil (Karimi, 1888), so the percentage organic matter and nitrogen increase by cultivation alfalfa (Grand fild et al, 1945). Alfalfa has long roots be able to absorb phosphor from surface and depth of soil (Jafari et al 2002) because production in that have more cultivation of alfalfa is more than control site so it is logical that amount of soil,s phosphor decreases in area alfalfa sowing (Mengol, 1991). Alfalfa for making protection needs to potassium and depth of making root in this plant causes decrease of potassium in alfalfa fields (Jafari et al 2002). Also, reasons loosing and decreasing soil potassium are because of withdrawal of it by plant (Salardini, 1895), so that in alfalfa site, the mean nitrogen and organic matter of soil regarded to control site has increased to 61.5 – 64.5 percent but mean potassium and phosphor regarded to control site has decreased 18.6-35 percent. The results of t test of soil parameters in wheat grass planting and control site (Table no 5) showed a meaningful difference of soil parameter in beneficial elements like, nitrogen, potassium, phosphor and organic matter of soil in 5% level that like these results are exited in alfalfa planting site in another word cultivation of wheat grass causes the increase organic matter and soil nitrogen in amount 47.5- 68% but the mean amount phosphor is 34.5% and mean amount is decreased to 35%. In wheat grass planting site, the amount canopy cover and much volume of root in soil cause the increase of nitrogen and organic matter in this site regarding to control site and following of decrease phosphor and potassium. Concludes of table no 4 showed meaningful difference of plant parameters, the percentage of canopy cover and production in 4 sites enclosure, gorab, alfalfa planting and Wheat grass planting 5% level but in view of density of I, II, III class species have n,t seen meaningful difference between 4 above sites. So that the gorab site has had the percentage of canopy cover and production related to seed sowing site with alfalfa production and percentage of canopy cover related to the gorab site, that seems the high amount above vegetation parameters in alfalfa sowing and cultivating wheat grass site is related to this reason that these 2 in addition to natural plant cover have planted species by seed sowing that cause the increase of production and canopy cover regarding to another sites. In addition to effect of relief on vegetation parameter under consideration, high production of alfalfa planting site, cultivating of wheat grass and enclosure is related to increasing amount nitrogen and organic matter of these sites in comparing with gorab site. Results of table no 4 showed a meaningful difference in production of alfalfa sowing site regarding to 3 other site in 5% level, so that production in alfalfa planting site, wheat grass site, enclosure site and gorab site were 1000, 410, 210 and 120 kg/ha. One of the reasons in addition to seed sowing in 2 biological sites is related to graze by domesticated animals. The consideration in this study shows this subject that alfalfa sowing site in every growth period by domesticated animals of tribes that grazing are located lighted but wheat grass and in enclosure site entrance of domesticated animals have been limited. According to results in rangelands without any grazing and without harvesting of plant growth are less than rangelands are under little grazing. Plants in second rangelands are better than first rangelands. Especially, in relation to grass, different kinds of wide brush will be made, but in another rangelands without any grazing diameter of plants crown would be less. In dry areas because of grazing, some parts of plant is harvested and so in dry period because of less evaporation surface, plant shows more restriction facing to dryness, also domesticated animals during the grazing by adding fertilizer cause fertility of soil. By trampling of domesticated animals seeds of plants can be in soil. This matter cause natural revival of plants (Moghadam, 2001). Results of table no 6 shows this subject that amount of organic matter, nitrogen and phosphor have been the most sample and potassium in 0-30 cm depth in enclosure site regarding to 3 other sites that main difference can be related to the soil structure in this site. Physical and chemical characters of soil has more percentage pf clay regarding to other site existence clay is important in physical, chemical and environmental quality of soil, clay with high specific surface area is as active part of soil, for instance if the amount organic matter in soil is worthless so the high absorption of water is related to clay (kohank, 1900). Also there is meaningful difference in calcium and potassium in 5%level between 4 sites improvemental practices, so that gorab excavating with 9.1% had the most amount calcium within 4 sites improvemental practices in depth 0-30 cm. Reason of increasing calcium in soil is related to bed rock and weather factors (Mengol, 1991) and the reason less amount of potassium con be related the less clay in gorab site soil regarding to other sites. Results of this study show the positive effect of difference improvemental practices on vegetation an soil parameters. 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