Journal of Rangeland

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The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between rangeland net primary production (NPP) of various plant life forms, and total NPP with altitude, slope, aspect and topographic index in Hir and Neur rangelands in Ardabil province. The sampling of NPP was conducted in three range sites in different altitude using the harvesting method at one square meter plots (totally 330 plots). The relationships between topographic factors and the rangeland NPP were analyzed using multiple regression technique. Using derived regression equations, the maps of NPP were produced in GIS. The results showed a significant relationship (p< 0.01) between the NPP with topographic factors. The NPP of grasses and forbs had direct relationships with elevation; however, the shrubs and total NPP decreased in middle elevation ranges (1850-2100 m) and increased in the higher elevation ranges (2100-2600 m). The NPP of grasses and forbs had a direct relationship with slope; however, the NPP of shrubs decreased with the increases of slope and had no effect on total NPP. Grasses, forbs and total NPP were higher in the west aspects and shrubs production was higher in the northwest aspect. According to the various classes of the topographic index (CTI), the maximum NPP of shrubs was observed in the middle elevation ranges and the highest NPP of forbs on the lowest amount of CTI. The modeled NPP maps had acceptable limits accuracy. Results of this study can be used as a baseline informations for future and carbon sequestration studies.
 

Keywords: Net primary production, Topography, Life form, Modeling, Rangelands, Ardabil province

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