Wildlife and Livestock Grazing Effects on Some Physical and Chemical Soil Properties (Case Study: Kalmand-Bahadoran Arid Rangelands of Yazd Province)

Owing to the importance and necessity of identifying soil properties in arid rangeland management, and the variable effects of different kinds of herbivores on soil, this study compares some of the physical and chemical properties of soil between two regions experiencing livestock and wildlife grazing in the desert rangelands of Kalmand-Bahadoran in Yazd province. The key areas in two regions experiencing livestock and wildlife grazing were selected, and soil samples were taken at depths of 0-30 cm using the systematic random sampling method. All samples were then transferred to the laboratory to determine the desired parameters. Finally, soil characteristics were compared between the two regions. The results indicate that physical properties of the soil such as clay and moisture percentage show no significant differences. Bulk density in the region of livestock grazing reveals a highly significant increase compared to the area under wildlife grazing (P<0.01). Calcium carbonate, acidity and electrical conductivity parameters also saw a significant increase from 18.33%, 8.47% and 1.46% in the region with livestock grazing to 14.91%, 8.36% and 1.35% on the wildlife grazing site respectively (P<0.01). In terms of organic matters there was no significant difference between the two study sites. Overall, changes in soil properties have occurred as a result of wildlife grazing from halophyte and shrub species and from less grazing pressure at the site.