Journal of Rangeland

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The soil is the main component of rangeland ecosystem that provides minerals and moisture for plant growth. Rangeland ecosystems as a renewable source have various economic, social and environmental influences. More understanding of economic and environmental consequences of severe grazing is required to prevent rangeland degradation. This study aimed to evaluate economic values of rangeland ecosystems in preserving soil nutrient elements such as N, P, K in Moghan rangelands. Two rangeland sites with good and poor management histories were selected and 31 soil samples were collected randomly in each site and their N, P and K elements were measured in soil laboratory. Results indicated that erosion in the study area with the size of 115000 hectares was 14.7 ton per hectare per a year. Unpaired t-test was used to compare the nutrients in both sites and logistic regression was performed to determine the likelihood of rangeland degradation and hazards. Replacement cost method was used to evaluate economic values of soil nutrients in the sites. Results revealed that the nutrients lost by soil erosion valued 18448875000000 Rials in the study area.
 

Keywords: Rangeland management, Soil, Valuation, Moghan.

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