نشریه حفاظت زیست بوم گیاهان
پیاپی 1 (بهار 1392)

In this research, the autecology of žAcantholimon olivieri, a perennial-spiny-tragacanth shrub from Plumbaginaceae, was investigated in Hamedan province. First, its habitats were detected throughout the province. All of these habitats were located in mountainous regions. Three of these habitats (Malayer, Gonbad, Asadabad) were selected and four sites were chosen for each habitat. Then, the climatic features and soil characteristics of the habitats, the root system, phenology, reproduction, and the vegetation factors were assessed. The vegetation and soil factors were measured applying the systematic-randomized method. Six composition soil samples were collected at the base of the shrubs in each site and were analyzed at the laboratory. The average annual rainfall of the habitats was 315 mm, and the average annual temperature was 12 0C. This species endures temperatures between -230C and �. It appeared on soil with sandy clay texture, a pH of 8.03–8.31 and electrical conductivity of 0.44 mmoh.cm-1. A. olivieri has a 1.13 m direct and vertical root system penetrating as deep as 1.13 meters in the soil. The average canopy and frequency of žA. olivieri in each of the habitats were 15 and 38.4%, respectively. Also its density and reproduction were 2957 and 26 shrubs.ha-1. The vegetation growth stage, flowering, seed ripening and dormancy of žA. olivieri started in late April, mid-August, late September and late December, respectively. Since this species is not grazed and is highly resistant to undesirable environmental conditions, it can be used in conservative and management programs in mountainous regions.

Abstract In order to study the relationship between 24 samples of barley using spike properties, an experiment was conducted as split plot design with three replications at the agricultural research farm of Gonbad Kavous University during 2011-2012. Studied traits were spike weight, spike length, peduncle length, peduncle weight, awn length, awn width and awn weight, respectively. The Statistical analysis of the data showed that there was a significant difference among the samples in terms of the studied traits. This indicates noticeable genetic variations between the studied lines for evaluated traits. Cluster analysis was assigned for the barley samples in four groups. The first group consisted of Lines A1C84-14, EB-86-6, EB-86-3, FICC0598, EB-86-4, MB-82-12, EB-86-14, and productive cultivar. The second population comprised three sample populations from Marave Tappe, TilAbad, and Khorasan Razavi. The third group consisted of sample population TN2173 and 76063 karaj and the fourth group contained 10 samples, namely Youssef, Izeh, Nimroz, Kavir and Bahman cultivars Lines EM81-12, EC83-4, , BF891M-584 sample populations TN49402, and karaje TN55502 The results showed that the samples belonged to groups with identical traits. The results of this research can be used to cross breed and provide genetic populations for further investigations.

Verbascum cheirantifolium is a perennial species from Scrophulariaceae. The main aim of this research was to study the morphological and ecological traits of V. cheirantifolium. Investigations on the climate, physiography, and soil physiochemical traits and species morphology were conducted. Among all physiographic factors, three major factors, namely the altitude, slope and geographical aspects were investigated given their influence on rainfall, radiation, temperature and soil characteristics. The results showed that the habitat of this species received 515.5 mm of rainfall, had an average temperature of 6.9 0C, with 165 frost days on average in the cold and semi-arid climate. The average height of this species was 98.9 cm. It had four shoots located in southern elevation. Habitat soil was sandy loam pH 7.8, EC 0.9 ds/m. 0.9% organic matter, 1% nitrogen, 78.3 p, 828.7 mg K, and 345.2 mg dissolved oxygen and caution exchange capacity was 4147.1. Overall, the results showed that V. cheirantifolium appeared to be in highlands and cold climate areas with appropriate precipitation and nutrient-rich soils being suitable for its growth. The average height of this plant was 9/98 cm, the average numbers of shoots were 4, the average height of inflorescences was 70.1 and the average length of the basal leaves was 30 cm.

This research was conducted in order to investigate the effect of cutting frequency and nitrogen fertilization on the performance of Sorghum halepense, The experiment was carried out at the greenhouse of Gonbad Kavous university in 2012. The research plan was designed as a randomized complete block with six replications. The study involved four treatments of cutting, namely frequent cutting (once every week), moderate cutting (every two weeks), low cutting (every three weeks) and control (at the end of the experiment) and four nitrogen treatments with four levels (non fertilizer, 100, 200 and 300 kg/ha). Measured characteristics such as plant height, ramet number, rhizome number, rhizome length, distance between nodes, shoot biomass, rhizome biomass, root biomass, total biomass, shoot biomass allocation, rhizome biomass allocation, root biomass allocation and relative growth rate were measured. All parts of the plants were cut from seven centimeters height in different treatments. The results showed that cutting stress and fertilizers can significantly affect plant height, ramet number, rhizome number, rhizome length, distance between nodes, shoot biomass, rhizome biomass, root biomass, total biomass, shoot biomass allocation, rhizome biomass allocation, root biomass allocation and relative growth rate. Cutting and nitrogen fertilization had a significant effect on all performance characteristics except the distance between nodes, rhizome biomass, shoot biomass allocation and rhizome biomass allocation. Thus, cutting could be a practical way to control this invasive species on farms, since it shows low tolerance against cutting.

This study aimed at identifying and recording medicinal plant species in Zilbarchay watershed located in East Azerbaijan in order to restore, conserve and plant these species in the same ecological region. Initially, the ecological parameters of the study area were investigated and specimens were collected based on these parameters. Using relevant references plant species were identified. Then they were compared with the medicinal plant literature, and species with medicinal value were recognized and classified. Approximately 145 medicinal plants belonging to 40 families and 113 genera were identified on the watershed. Asteraceae (24 species), Rosaceae (18 species) and Lamiaceae (15 species) are the most important medicinal plant families. Forbs with 57.2% were the most and grass-likes with 0.7% were the least common medicinal plants in the study area. With 72.9%, perennials were the dominant species and biannuals with 6.5% had the lowest distribution. The leaves, underground parts and fruits are the most important medicinal parts among the identified species. 54.2% of the medicinal species are distributed in low altitude (2000 m) and the remaining species are distributed in different altitudes. From ecological, range management and medicinal perspectives the watershed has been degraded. Some plants with low range management (from the livestock palatability perspective), and high medicinal value invaded the areas of the watershed and more studies are required to improve the conservation and management of rangelands and medicinal plants.

Information regarding forage quality index is of paramount importance in animal and rangeland management. Hence, the quality of important common forage species in Pashaylogh-e-Maravetapeh rangelands was determined. In the present study, 18 rangeland species were sampled at three different phenological stages (vegetation, flowering, seeding) in 2009. All of these species were among the most important plant types of the study site. Forage quality indexes namely crude protein (CP), acid detergent fiber (ADF), dry matter digestibility (DMD) and metabolisable energy (ME) were determined to meet animal maintenance requirements. Analysis of variance was used to compare the indexes among species and different growth stages. Specific differences were evaluated using Duncan's test. The results showed that the average crude protein for vegetation, flowering and seeding stages were 17.70, 14.91 and 8.96%, respectively. However, it was the highest in the phenological stages and even lower than the critical level (7.0%) to meet an animal unit maintenance requirement. Average dry matter digestibility values for different phenological stages were 68.01, 64.89 and 55.84% with values higher than the critical amount (50%) for all phenological stages to meet animal maintenance requirements. Metabolism energy in vegetation, flowering and seeding stages were 9.56, 9.03 and 7.49 Mj/Kg/DM respectively with higher values for vegetation and flowering stages and values even lower than the critical level (8Mj) to meet an animal unit maintenance requirement in seeding stages. This suggests that the desirable quality of pasture forage at different times of grazing is not the same and the determination of daily animal unit requirements based on forage quality is needed. It is clear that forage quality varies as the weather changes, but since determining forage quality is costly, the results of this research can be used to estimate animal requirements throughout the year.

Increasing human disturbances have caused habitat fragmentation and population descent in species drawing many researchers’ attention. Along with recent developments in 3S technology (i.e., GIS, RS and GPS), large scale herbal plant habitat modeling has become a new research hot spot. In this study, Ecological-niche factor analysis was used to generate Ferula ovina potential distribution map as a medicinal and industrial plant. stratified- random sampling approach has been used to provide 54 occurrence sample sites in the studied area (Feridonshar rangeland - Isfahan province). Environmental variables such as topography, soil and climate maps were produced using geo-statistical techniques in a 90m*90m resolution and the potential distribution map of F. ovina was generated. According to the results, the most important environmental factor influencing the ecological niche of F. ovina was the soil clay content followed by saturated soil moisture and electrical conductivity. Slope degree had a minor effect on the distribution of F. ovina. The marginality and specialization indices were equal to 0.747 and 1.712 respectively emphasizing the occurrence of F. ovina in marginal habitats. Model accuracy was evaluated by both Cohen’s kappa statistics (k=0.72) and cross validation (%89) methods. The results indicate good accuracy of the ENFA model. This model is suitable for sustainable management of rangeland ecosystems, reclamation and land protection.