Effect of Flood Water Spreading on Vegetation Cover Characteristics (Case Study:Serizi- Bafgh Plain in Yazd Province)

    This study was carried out in the Serizi- Bafq flood water spreading area of Yazd province. Vegetation sampling was performed in four flood spreading areas and the adjoining area as control in a completely randomized design. In order to investigate the vegetation changes, the transect-quadratic method was used and three transects with a length of 100 meters were established. On each transect, 10 plots of 5×5(m2) were used. Collectively, 120 plots were installed inside the flood spreading area as well as in the control area. The parameters of canopy cover, density and presence of the plants in the flood and control areas were measured. The data were analyzed using t-test in SPSS software. The results showed that the percentage of canopy cover, density and presence of Hammada salicornia, Seidlitzia rosmarinus as well as the percentage of total canopy, total density and total species presence showed a significant difference at the 1% level. A significant difference was also found for litter coverage at the 5% level. The total percentage of annuals, Zygophyllum europterum, Salsola yazdiana, and Artemisia seiberi in the flood and control areas was not statistically significant. Flood water spreading operations have led to the presence of Zygophyllum europterum, Salsola yazdiana, and Artemisia seiberi. The vegetation percentage of these species is low in the current situation, but with repeated water logging in the flood spreading area, there may be significant changes in the long-term vegetation composition.