Journal of Rangeland

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This study aimed to investigate the effects of altitude and aspect on the essential efficiency and the phytochemical properties of Artemisia aucheri and Artemisia sieberi in mountainous and Steppe rangelands of South Khorasan Province. Experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design (CRD) with two treatments of altitude in four levels (<1800, 2000-1800, 2200-2000, and > 2200 meters above sea level) for Artemisia aucheri and in three levels (1400, 1600, and 1800 m above sea level) for Artemisia sieberi and aspect in four levels (north, south, east and west) for Artemisia aucheri with three replications. Aboveground samples were collected in the flowering stage and their essential oils were extracted using the Hydrodistilation method. Phytochemical properties of the samples such as the amount of total phenol, total flavonoid, antioxidant activity, and total tannin were determined using the Spectrophotometer. The results showed that altitude had a significant negative and positive effects on the essential efficiency of Artemisia aucheri and Artemisia sieberi respectively (p ≤ 0.01). The results of Pearson's correlation coefficient showed that there was a significant correlation between altitude and essential efficiency and total phenol content of Artemisia aucheri (-0.94 and +0.66, respectively), as well as essential efficiency, total phenol and total tannin of Artemisia sieberi (+0.81, +0.68 and -0.86, respectively). The highest essential efficiency of Artemisia aucheri was observed in the eastern aspect (2.63%) and the lowest essential efficiency was detected in the southern aspect (1.28%). This study indicated that collecting the aerial parts of this species at low altitudes will yield a high percentage of the essential efficiency.
 

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Background and objectives: Rangelands, as an important part of natural resources, play an essential role in improving or reducing the economic and social conditions of local communities and rural residents. After the Forest and Rangeland Nationalization Act of 1962, in the laws passed in 1969, the exploitation of rangelands was considered as a rangeland management plan for the first time. In the meantime, rangeland management plans are formulated and implemented with the aim of promoting ecological, economic and social indicators of stakeholders. Thus it is necessary to evaluate the achievement and show them to policy and decision makers of rangeland managers. Rangeland management plans are one of the main tools for managing and exploiting rangelands in Iran, which are implemented to eliminate or reduce degradation and optimal and sustainable rangeland management. In this study, economic and social effects of rangeland management projects in Bijar city of Kurdistan province were evaluated.
Methodology: A survey and documentary method was used to collect data and information. The study area included rangelands of 9 completed rangeland projects in Bijar city in the East of Kurdistan province. The statistical population in this study included two groups of stakeholders of rangeland and experts familiar with the subject and rangeland projects. 175 households were selected based on Cochran's formula and adapted to Krejcie and Morgan table as study samples and participated in completing the questionnaires randomly. Also, 24 experts participated in the research. After confirming the validity of the questionnaires using the opinion of experts, Cronbach's alpha coefficient was used in order to evaluate the reliability of the questionnaires. These values are obtained 0.81 and 0.84 for experts and stakeholders, respectively. It showed that the questionnaires were properly reliable. In addition to demographic characteristics, the research questionnaires included questions about the direct and indirect socio-economic effects of rangeland plans based on Likert scale. Prioritization of economic and social effects was done through the ranking average. The normality of the data was assessed by Kolmogorov -Smirnov test and after confirming the normality of the data, Student's t-test was used to compare the viewpoints of experts and stakeholders about economic and social effects of rangeland projects. Data analyses were performed using SPSS20 software.
Results: According to the results, preventing the land use changes, improving the drinking water needs of livestock and increasing the confidence of stakeholders in the aims and programs of the executive department of natural resources by obtaining averages of 4.04, 3.96 and 3.92, were the most important economic and social effects of rangeland projects in Bijar city from the viewpoint of the experts, respectively. But from the viewpoint of the stakeholders, the sense of ownership strengthening the social spirit and participation of the local community in implementing the plan and increasing the unity and social cohesion. with the averages of 4.16, 3.92 and 3.88 these were the most important economic and social effects of rangeland projects acceptance and implementation respectively. In the majority of economic and social indicators of rangeland management projects, there was no statistically significant difference between the viewpoint of experts and stakeholders (P >0.05), but according to viewpoint of experts, the mean value of the effects of preventing land use changes (P =0.0001) and increasing the trust of stakeholders to the aims and programs of the executive department of natural resources (P = 0.012) was more significant. Such, from the viewpoint of stakeholders, increasing the unity and social cohesion of stakeholders (P = 0.003), the sense of belonging and sense of ownership to the rangelands for stakeholders, (P = 0.019), strengthening the social spirit and participation of the local community in the implementation of the project (P = 0.012) were significantly more evaluated. Economic effects from the viewpoint of the stakeholders were evaluated significantly lower than experts (P <0.05). But there was no significant difference between the viewpoint of experts and stakeholders in social effects (P >0.05).
Conclusion: According to the results of this study, the implementation of rangeland management projects in the study area has only been effective in achieving some economic and social indicators, especially social goals. These projects in some economic and social aspects such as income generation, employment and reducing migration has not been very effective. The overall satisfaction with the implementation of rangeland management plans was not high from the viewpoints of both groups due to the failure to meet the economic needs of stakeholders. Therefore, it is necessary to develop and implement rangeland management projects with more accuracy, sensitivity and seriousness. Finally, recognizing and using the capacities and resources, multi-purpose use of rangelands, attracting facilities and capitals of the private and public sectors and providing appropriate facilities can provide the basis for further success and improve the effectiveness of rangeland management projects.
 

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Background and objectives: Livestock grazing, as a primary use of rangelands in Iran and globally, alters soil characteristics, which are essential components of rangeland ecosystems, through various mechanisms. Soil plays a crucial role in the improvement and restoration of rangelands. Given the extensive effects of livestock on soil, livestock grazing management is vital for forage quality and rangeland health. This study addresses one of the challenges of rangeland management in Iran, namely the increase in livestock beyond the capacity of rangelands.
Materials and Methods: This study investigated the effect of livestock grazing at different intensities in the rangelands around Ban Rahman village in Mehran city, Ilam province. A grazing gradient of 3-4 km in length, with six sites of varying grazing intensities, was examined. Grazing intensity decreases with distance from the village, which is the center of the most intensive grazing area. Five plots of 10 x 10 meters were randomly established within each site, and soil samples were taken from a depth of 0-10 cm in three quadrats of 1 x 1 meter within each plot. Soil samples were collected to measure physical, chemical, and biological factors. In the laboratory, electrical conductivity (EC), nitrogen, phosphorus, lime, potassium, soil microbial activities, soil moisture, and soil particle percentages were analyzed.
Results: The findings indicated significant differences in biological and chemical parameters such as pH, EC, carbon, organic matter, soil moisture, and microbial activities across different grazing intensities, whereas soil phosphorus (P) and carbon/nitrogen ratio did not show significant differences. Increased grazing intensity along the gradient resulted in decreased soil factors such as EC, soil organic matter, nitrogen, soil moisture, and soil microbial respiration. Conversely, factors such as calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), and EC increased with grazing intensity. Additionally, at higher grazing intensities, the percentage of soil clay increased, while the amounts of silt and sand did not show significant differences.
Conclusion: The general results indicated that livestock grazing likely affects various soil characteristics directly and indirectly through factors such as trampling, adding urine and feces, and removing plants. Increased grazing intensity and plant removal exert pressure on plants and soil, reducing soil microbial activity due to decreased organic carbon in these areas. The study concluded that moderate grazing intensity is optimal, maximizing forage harvesting while minimizing damage to rangeland soil.