Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1
Ph.D Graduate, Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands (RIFR),Tehran, Iran
2
Professor, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran
3
Associate Professor, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran
4
Assistant Professor, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
5
Assistant Professor, Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands (RIFR),Tehran, Iran
6
Member of Scientific Board, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
It has often been stated or implied that grazing is an important factor in the land degradation process, a suggestion supported by various research projects, and this study investigated the effect of livestock grazing on stem height, crowncover, production, basal diameter, stem biomass, litter, leaf-stem index (leaf to stem weight) , root diameter and weight and seed production per individual of the even-aged Atriplex canescens , by comparing two sites (grazed and non-grazed) across Zarand, Shahreiar rangelands located in the southwestern of Tehran, Iran. For this purpose, by using systematicrandom sampling method, four 300 m long transects were set up in each sampling area and ten quadrats were randomly assigned per transect [8] to measure the stem height as well as the crown cover, production, basal diameter, stem biomass, litter, leaf-stem index , seed production per individual and root biomass and diameter were measured at 3 soil depth (0-30, 30-70, >70 cm) with 4 replications within each of the two studied sites, results indicated that, grazing had no significantinfluence on stem height and leaf-stem index but crown cover, production, basal diameter, stem biomass, litter, seed production per individual, root weight and diameter of the even -aged Atriplex canescens were significantly greater than those of the un-grazed site.
Keywords
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