Improvement of degraded rangelands in the semi-steppe regions of Markazi province

Rosa persica Michx (ex Juss.) is one of the invasive species in Iran, which has rapidly expanded in the degraded rangelands and abandoned and low-yield rainfed areas, negatively affecting the structure and function of rangeland ecosystems. This research was carried out to investigate the possibility of improvement and reclamation of degraded rangelandsin one of the semi-steppe regions of Markazi province, whose dominant species was R. persica. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of four improvement treatments including control, furrow and seeding, pit seeding, and direct seeding with Agropyron elengatum, Bromus tomentelus, Onobrychis subnitens, Onobrychis melanotricha, Sanguisorba minor, Medicago sativa, and Onobrychis sativa. The experiment was arranged in a split plot based on complete randomized block design for three consecutive years. According to the results, the highest seedling establishment was recorded for furrow and seeding, pit seeding, and direct seeding, respectively. Regardless of the type of improvement methods, Agropyron elengatum with the highest establishment percentage is a suitable species for planting in all three improvement methods, followed by Medicago sativa, Sanguisorba minor, and Bromus tomentellus. Therefore, the seeding of these species in furrow is recommended for improvement and reclamation of degraded rangelandsin this area