Rangeland Condition and the Appropriate Rangeland Management Methods

Abstract

Improvement, development and proper exploitation of current rangelands conditions and selecting a range management method (balanced, natural and, artificial) to be implemented in the form of a range management plan (RMP). Data was collected from the rangelands of Haraz River watershed. Information including the total percentage of vegetation and each of the increasing species, rangeland condition and production were studied in 2016. To determine the best range management method, the analysis of variance was used. To compare the quantitative characteristics measured before and after the implementation, a two-sample independent t-test was used. Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare qualitative characteristics. Results showed that the vegetation percentage of palatable species composition did not increase, the balanced and natural methods were the best methods in good and fair rangeland condition. The reason for the lack of increase in the number of palatable species was the unsuccessful implementation of planned programs in RMPs. The artificial method was performed in the RMPs with poor vegetation types, the implementation of these plans had no significant effect on the rangeland condition of the study rangelands due to the high livestock population. Rangeland plans will be more effective when there is a balance between grazing capacity and livestock population. 

Keywords

• Rangeland condition
• Rangeland
• Management methods
• Rangeland trend

References

1. Antje B (2004). Range management systems in arid Namibia. What can livestock numbers tell us?. Journal of Arid Environments 59: 387-408
2. Ariapour A, Mehrabi HR & Pahlavan DA (2016). Effect of rangeland plans on production, and condition Rangelands: a case Study in Rangelands in Khazal Area of Nahavand County. Rangeland Journal 10. https://www.civilica.com/Paper-RRMI03-RRMI03_008.html. (In Persian)
3. Arzani H (1994). Some aspects of estimating short and long term rangeland carrying capacity in the Western Division of New South Wales. PhD Thesis, University of New South Wales, Australia
4. Arzani H, et all (2011). Final report of the investigating the effect of rangeland plans on the condition and capacity of rangelands in the arid and semiarid climatic zones. University of Tehran, 243. (In Persian)
5. Borhani M, Arzani H & Jaber Al-Ansar Z (2014). Assessment of Rangeland management methods and proposed grazing systems in Semirom. Esfahan Province. Iranian Journal of Range and Desert Research 21: 530-540
6. Danckworts YE & Madam K (1991). Dynamic of Rangelands Ecosystems. Proc. Fourth International Rangelands congress Mont Palliser France 3: 1066-1069
7. Eftekhari A, et all (2016). Effect of range management plan on rangeland condition: a case study in Zarandieh region, Markazi province. Iranian Journal of Range and Desert Reseach 23: 218-209
8. Gillen RL & Sims PL (2006). Stocking rate and weather impacts on sand sagebrush and grasses: a 20-year record. Rangeland Ecology and management 59: 145-152

9. Hardin G (1998). Essay on sciences and society: extensions of ''The tragedy of the commons''. Science 280: 682-683
10. Holecheck JL (2002). Do most livestock losses to poisonous plants result from "poor" range management? Journal of Range Management 55: 270-276
11. Hoshino A, et all (2009). Comparison of vegetation changes along grazing gradients with different numbers of livestock. Journal of Arid Environment 73: 687-690
12. Houston WR & Woodward RR (1966). Effects of stocking rates on range vegetation and bee cattle production in the northern Great Plains. Technical Bullteins, USA Agriculture Department 64
13. Kamrani K (2004). The Effect of Economic and Social Factors on Managing Rangelands in Chaharbagh Region of Semnan Province. Master's thesis, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Iran. (In Persian)
14. Launchbaugh JL (1967). Vegetation relationships associated with intensity of summer grazing on a clay upland range site in the Kansas. Technical Bullteins, USA 20-24 Mazaheri M, Khaksar Astaneh H & Motalebi M (2009). Calculation of the efficiency of rangelands granted in the form of range management plans in Khorasan Razavi province, Sixth Iranian Agriculture Economics Conference. Khorasan Razavi, Iran. https://www.civilica.com/Paper-IAEC06-IAEC06_021.html. (In Persian)
15. Mesdaghi M (2007). Range management in Iran. Astane Ghods Razavi Press: Mashhad.
16. Mirth MM (1991). Range Damage and Recovery in the Weyden of North Saudi Arabia. In: Proc. 2nd International Rangeland Congress in The Persian Gulf, Kuwaiti
17. Moradi E & Mofidi M (2012). Effects of grazing enclosure on vegetation in Semi- Steppe rangelands of Semirom in Esfahan: a case study in Hana.Journal of Rangeland 3
18. Parker KW & Harris RW (1951). The 3 step Method for measuring condition and trend of forest & Ranges: Aresume of its History. Development and Use 55-69
19. Qandali K (2001). Comparison of effect of Rangeland management methods on Rangelands in Semnan Province. Msc Thesis, Emam Khomeini University, Iran (In Persian)
20. Safari H, Arzani H & Tavili A (2016). Selection of rangeland breeding methods based on environmental conditions: a case study in Middle Taleghan rangelands. Range and Watershed Management. Iranian Natural Resources Journal 69: 611-619
21. Savory A (1987). A holistic approach to range management using short duration grazing. Proc. Intn'l. Rangel. Congr 1: 555-557
22. Shoop MC & Mcllvain EH (1971). Why some cattlemen overgraze and some don't. Journal of Range Management 24: 252-257
23. Tawafi S & Arzani H (2012). Evaluation of the sustainability of rangeland exploitation by integrating social, economic. GIS and RS indices: a case study in Chalous Road ranges in the Arengeh. PhD Thesis, Islamic Azad University, Iran. (In Persian)
24. Teague WR & Dowhower SL (2002). Patch dynamics under rotational and continuous grazing managementin large, heteerogeneous paddocks. Journal of Arid Environments 53: 211-229
25. Valentine JF (2001). Grazing Management. University of San Francisco: USA, 659
26. Walker B (1993). Rangeland ecology: understanding and managing change. Ambio 22: 80-87