Journal of Rangeland Science
Volume:1 Issue: 1, Autumn 2010

Wormwood sagebrush (Artemisia sieberi Besser) is one of the most widely distributed shrub species in Iran and Turkistan steppes, its establishment on dry lands has generally been proven difficult because of low seedling vigor, inability to compete with herbaceous species, poor seed quality, and altered edaphic conditions. In order to evaluation of planting methods and seedling establishment, seed of A. sieberi was collected at Isfahan Kolah Ghazi National Park situated at 5145' Eas longitude and 3515' Nort latitude. To overcome dormancy effects, seeds were pre-chilled for 9 days at 0 to 5C. To determine the establishment of the seedlings, the seeds were sown in Petri dishes. The germination percentage was recorded after three weeks. After 5 months, 40 seedlings were transferred into plastic pots. Two months later, 16 seedlings were transferred to the field. The result of plate experiment showed that the percentage of germination was 63%, survival of the sprouted seedlings was 23%, the percentage of the establishment of the seedlings in plastic pots was 70%, and the percentage of the establishment of the seedlings in the field was 75%. On the whole, 7.61% of the cultivated seeds produced seedlings that were successfully established in the field (0.63  0.230.70  0.75100 =7.61).

The objective of this research was to study the effects of phenological stages on yield and quality traits in 22 populations of tall wheatgrass Agropyron elongatum. A split plot design was conducted using a complete randomized block with two replications in Lorestan (Borujerd), Iran during 2007-2008. The genotypes were cut in five maturity stages as vegetation, stem elongation, heading date, anthesis, milky development and dough seed stage as main plots. Data were collected and analyzed for DM yield, stem number, plant height and three quality traits as; dry matter digestibility (DMD), water soluble carbohydrate (WSC) and crude protein (CP). The results showed the significant effects of phonological stages, genotypes and genotypes×phonology interaction effects for all of traits except stem number. The stem elongation and dough seed stages with average values of 2.58 and 5.08 Kg/ha had the lowest and highest yield production, respectively. In contrast, the average values of DMD and CP were high in both vegetation and stem elongation stages and they dramatically decreased in mature hay by 13% and 35% lower than those of vegetation hay, respectively. For WSC, the highest values (14.3 and 14.4%) were obtained in heading and pollination stages. Based on both yield and quality traits, it concluded that heading and pollination stages were the best stage for harvesting maximum DM yield couple with three quality traits DMD, WSC and CP yields in tall wheatgrass under conservation management. In comparison among genotypes, 301P10 (Alborz), 301M2 (Alborz) and 1599P10 (Gorgan), 1599P4 (Gorgan) 774M (Takestan) and 1755P9 (Ormia) with the range of 4.03 and 4.98 ton/ha had the higher forage production. Among them, 1599P10 (Gorgan), 774M (Takestan) and 1755P9 (Ormia) were recognized as the best genotypes for both yield and quality trait.

The UNCCD has been ratified by over 190 countries. It is the attempt by nations, both rich and poor to control the scourge of desertification. The definition of which is “land degradation in arid, semiarid, and dry subhumid areas resulting from various factors, including climatic variations and human activities. It is now widely accepted that desertification is not the relentless advance of desert but rather the development of land degradation in discrete sites that can coalesce and spread (Squires and Sidahmed 1998). China, a signatory to the UNCCD, has a large area of desert and an alarming rate of desertification of all types wind and water erosion, and soil salinization (Luo and Zhang 2006). In China for example, in provinces such as Ningxia, Inner Mongolia and Gansu the local officials report that the rate of expansion of desertified lands is proceeding at double the rate of control measures. Clearly, this is unsatisfactory and better ways must be found to reverse the trend. National efforts to combat desertification employ a range of measures, some physical and others relate to socio-economic and policy change (Lu et al. 2005). Other countries that are UNCCD signatories face similar problems. Sandy desertification (sandification) is of great concern in China (Wang 2000). Iran and countries of the Gulf Persian region (Al Faraji 2002). Until recently the area of sandification in China was growing at a rapid rate, despite efforts to combat it (Fig. 1). It is estimated that the rate of rangeland degradation in semi arid and dry sub-humid areas is 90-97%, and the annual rate of rangeland degradation is accelerating. But, in China as a whole, from 2004 onwards the rate of expansion of land affected by sandification has declined and in some areas it has been reversed (Luo and Zhang 2006). Other forms of desertification, especially in the marginal cropping lands in the interface zone between the pastoral zone and the croplands, are on the increase. This is also apparent in other countries as burgeoning human and livestock populations put more and more pressure on the shrinking arable land base (El-Beltagy, Saxena and Wang 2008).

Surat is a highly developed, thickly populated cosmopolitan character city with full of various activities going on day and night. Any natural calamity which causes loss of lives to property and infrastructure along with effects on industrial processes going on has serious impact on economy of the state. Therefore, it becomes highly necessary that flood events are studied and analyzed properly in order to propose adequate flood control and protection measures in time to come. Many research organizations like Central Water Commission (CWC), Gujarat Engineering Research Institute (GERI), Central Water Power and Research Station (CWPRS), are already involved in study of flood phenomena of Tapi River. It appears to be of vital importance to initiate studies as an extension in lights of finding of such studies, using modern computer, model and software technology. In this research paper in detail, morphological processes in Tapi River Basin studied. It is also studied presently available mathematical models by proving them for Tapi flood data and to develop an “Optimization Process” to minimize the flood impacts. It is further attempted to validate the model with studies on physical model development with studies on physical model developed/constructed by any Govt. or Semi Govt. organization like CWC, GERI, and CWPRS etc. Subsequent to construction of Ukai dam large urban developments have taken place along Tapi river banks. With the moderation of flood at Ukai reservoir, no major floods were experienced at Surat and Hazira till 1994. During 1994, 1998 and 2006 floods of the order of 14870 m3/s (5.25 lakh cfs), 19820 m3/s (7.00cfs) and 28315 m3/s (9.10lakh cfs) were experienced. Large portion of Surat area was inundated along with large scale flooding at Bhata, Bharatpur, Surat, and surrounding areas. There were heavy damages of industrial and urban properties costing 21000 Crores. This paper presents CHARIMA mathematical model for prediction of water levels in Tapi Creek under influence of flood and tide. This mathematical model is capable of handling unsteady floods in river channel network validated for September 1998 flood situation and then applied for predictions with 28315 m3/s (10 lakh cfs flood discharge). On the basis of the results this study the necessary measures to be taken for flood forecast and flood protection schemes to minimi Tapi river flood impacts on Surat, Gujarat, India, have been suggested.

The rangelands, as one of the largest dynamic biomes in the world, have very capabilities. Regulation of greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere, particularly carbon dioxide as the main greenhouse gases, is one of these cases. The attention to rangeland, as cheep and reachable resources to sequestrate the carbon dioxide, increases after the Industrial Revolution. Rangelands comprise the large parts of Iran as a steppic area. Rudshur (Saveh), as area index of steppic area, was selected under three sites including long-term exclosure, medium-term exclosure, and grazable area due to the capability of carbon dioxide’s sequestration of dominated species. Canopy cover’s percentage of two dominated species (Artemisia sieberi Besser and Stipa barbata Desf.) was determined via establishing of random 1 square meter plot. The sampling of above and below ground biomass style was obtained by complete random. After determination of ash percentage in the laboratory; conversion ratio of plant biomass to organic carbon was calculated by ignition method. Results of the paired t-test showed that the amount of carbon sequestration in above ground and underground biomass of Artemisia sieberi Besser and Stipa barbata Desf. is different in three regions. It, of course, has not any difference between under and surface ground’s biomass of Artemisia sieberi Besser in long-term exclosure. The independent t-test results indicate differences between underground biomass corresponding each other in the studied sites. Carbon sequestration in the Stipa barbata Desf. was totally more than Artemisia sieberi Besser. Altogether, the average sequestration of the long-term exclosure was 5.842gr/m², the medium-term exclosure was 4.115gr/m², and grazable area was 5.975gr/m² so that there is not valuable statistical difference in terms of total amount of carbon sequestration to three sites.

Plant Diversity conservation is a main objective in rangeland management. Plant diversity is a suitable index for showing the changes of vegetation in rangelands and has a high correlation with ecosystem parameters. Therefore, using this index it is possible to find the changes and manage the ecosystem correctly. The current research was performed to determine the species diversity in Fashandak rangelands of Taleghan. To do this, 110 plots each one with an area of 1 m2 were established based on randomized-systematic method and density of the species within each plot was recorded. Species properties including the related genus and family in addition to life form, growth form and biological type were determined. Shannon, Simpson and McIntosh diversity indexes were used. Results showed that diversity of Fashandak rangelands could be considered as moderate. The highest distribution frequency was related to the species of Bromus tomentellus, Hypericum perforatum and Thymus kotschyanus.

Main perennial rivers of Gujarat, Tapi, Narmada, Mahi and Sabarmati are meeting Arabian Sea in Gulf of Khambhat. The out flow of Mahi River into the sea is decreased due to construction of dams like Bajaj Sagar, Kadana, Panam and Wanakbori weir. So, Tidal effect of sea and sea water intrusion is being increased on landward side. Moreover, due to erratic nature of rainfall and improper management of the existing water resources in the region, the ground water withdrawal rate has increased. Since the existing ground water resources have not been replenished as per demand, Mahi estuarian area is facing a problem of sea water intrusion. Day by day quality of ground water and soil going on deteriorating. An attempt is made to study the pre and post-monsoon ground water quality by collecting and analyzing the water samples of open well, bore well etc. Considering radial distances from Kavi Town (sea) i.e. to study the effect of salinity ingress. It is observed that as the distance from Kavi village increases, the T.D.S, Cl and, TH, values decreases. The high pre-monsoon values get normalized after the post monsoon because of rain water recharge and dilution, except some locations due to many reasons.

This study was conducted to compare the methods of seed bed preparation in rangelands of Khash region in Sistan and Baluchestan province in Iran. A split plot design was conducted based on Randomized complete block design with three replications in 1999. Five seed bed preparation methods were used as main plot as: 1) Seed sown by passing livestock. 2) Seed sown machinery. 3) Seeds sown as drilled into furrows. 4) Seeds sowing into furrows covered by straw mulch. 5) Seed sown machinery and pressed by roller. Six range species were used as: 1) Artemisia santolina, 2) Eurotia ceratoides, 3) Zygophyllum eurypterum, 4) Astragalus squarrosus, 5) Stipagrostis sp. and 6) Artemisia sieberi, as sub-plot. The results of experiment showed significant differences among the seed bed preparation methods on seedling emergence rate. Astragalus and Eurotia had higher germination percent when they sown and passing through livestock. Zygophyllum and Eurotia had higher germination by machinery seeder followed by roller. The lowest germination percent was obtained by method of seed sowing in furrows covered by straw mulch and seeds were sown machinery. Among the species, Eurotia, Zygophyllum and Astragalus were ranked in the first order followed by Artemisia. The Stipagrostis species. Had no germination for all of seed bed treatments.