Effect of Temporal Succession of Biological Restoration on Desert Rangeland (Case Study; Khaf Rangelands, Khorasan Razavi Province)

The present research aims to investigate the effect of temporal succession on the biological operation of planting Haloxylon persicum on the functional characteristics of rangelands in Khaf County. Three rangelands in which H. persicum planting operations were performed at different ages of 10, 20 and 30 years, and the control area were selected. Sampling along 3 transects of 100 meters, located 10 meters apart, were measured and analyzed for each area and a total of 12 transects. Using the function analysis method, three characteristics of stability, infiltration and nutrient cycle were measured using 11 soil surface indexes. The results showed that there is a significant difference between the succession times for biological restoration from the functional point of view (P <0.01). The highest degree of stability and infiltration is related to the H. persicum range of 30 years old and the smallest of it belongs to the control area. There is a significant difference between the biological regeneration time of H. persicum planting and the control area in terms of nutrient cycle index (P <0.01). The highest levels of nutrients are related to the 30-year-old H. persicum, 20-year-old H. persicum, 10-year-old H. persicum, and the control area. In general, the results of the present study indicate positive biologic effects on the characteristics of the rangeland function, and these positive effects are evident in increasing the functional indexes over time.