The effect of fire on plant vegetation forms in Kaboudeh summer range (Kermanshah province, Iran)

Fires occur as a threatening factor in natural resources on a large scale every year. This study aimed to determine the quantitative of fire effects on rangeland plants and determine the resistance of different rangeland species to fire to rehabilitate rangeland areas. This research was conducted in the rangeland site of Kaboudeh Olya village of Kermanshah province. This site was burned in 2016. A control rangeland with similar ecological characteristics and topography was selected in the adjacency of the burned site. Then, by determining the area of burn and control and using Random-Systematic Method, four 50-meter transects and 10 fixed 1×1 plots were established during three years (2017-2019). Statistics and evaluation of density, forage production, canopy cover, condition, and tendency of rangelands were done. Data were analyzed by SPSS software, and the means were compared with the Duncan test at a 5% level. The results showed a significant difference between control and fire treatments at 1%. Perennial grasses and herbaceous forbs in control and fire areas had a significant mean difference for density and canopy cover at 1%. Fire is affected perennial grasses and forbs by reducing the average canopy and production and indicates the sensitivity of this form to fire. The vegetative form of bushes had a significant difference at 1% for density and 5% for crown coverage in the two fields of control and fire. In the field of fire, the density, canopy, and production of bush plants had decreased. The fire had changed the species composition, removed or reduced the density and biomass of bushes and shrub plants. On the contrary, the fire caused an increase in the density, canopy cover, and production in annual grass and herbaceous plants. Fire-resistant species included perennial grass (Hordeum bulbosum and Elymus hispidus).