Journal of Rangeland Science (JRS)Determination of Pasture Comfort Climate Index between Forest and Open Grassland for Livestock GrazingVolume 14 (2024)Issue 4, Octopber 202420240201Determination of Pasture Comfort Climate Index between Forest and Open Grassland for Livestock Grazing10.57647/j.jrs.2024.1404.26ENKrisztinaVargaHungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences Karcag Research Institute0000-0001-9563-891XIstvanCsiziHungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences Research Institute Karcag0000-0001-6486-0163AndrasHalaszInstitute of Animal Husbandry at Szent Istvan University0000-0003-2959-0924Journal Article20240201In the summer of 2019 digitally recorded climatic data of shelterbelts and open pastures were compared to create a database. Our aim was to clarify the extent to which the herding needs of free-range flocks in the pasture meet the climatic conditions of the shelterbelts. It is considered important to graze sheep in the grazing forest, as special attention needs to be paid during the daytime due to their low heat stress tolerance, which can increase the comfort zone of sheep, thus ensuring grassland sustainability and increasing grassland diversity. Based on our investigations, it can be concluded that the shelterbelts occupies a key position in the examined area in the daily rhythm of the flock's presence on the pasture. Our results showed that the soil surface temperature measured in the shelterbelt was lower on average 6.44 ° C (p-value: 1.36E-08 at 13:00 hrs.) and 5.18 ° C (p-value: 7.8E-07 at 15:00 hrs.) than in the control area. Our studies also showed that the temperature in the shelterbelt was lower in the early afternoon hours than in the control area (p-value: 0.001 at 13:00 hrs.; and p-value: 0.0007 at 15:00 hrs.). Furthermore, the protective role of the shelterbelt was demonstrated, with a lower wind speed (83% avg.), humidity (13% avg.) and temperature (4% avg.) values.Journal of Rangeland Science (JRS)Effects of Planting Date and Biofertilizer on Seedling Growth of Thymus daenensis Celak and T. vulgaris L. Cultivated in Borujerd, IranVolume 14 (2024)Issue 4, Octopber 202420240201Effects of Planting Date and Biofertilizer on Seedling Growth of Thymus daenensis Celak and T. vulgaris L. Cultivated in Borujerd, Iran10.57647/j.jrs.2024.1404.27ENMohammadFarzamDepartment of Range and Watershed Management, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran0000-0003-1947-0187MohammadFarzamDepartment of Range and Watershed Management, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran0000-0003-1947-0187AliAriapourDepartment of Range Management, Borujerd Branch, Islamic Azad University, Borujerd, Lorestan Province, Iran0000-0001-6783-0680JafarNabatiLegume Department, Research Centre for Plant Sciences, Ferdowsi University of MashhadJournal Article20240201Seedling establishment is a crucial stage in the restoration of degraded rangelands. The effects of sowing dates and bio-fertilizers on the growth and establishment of Thymus daenensis Celak (native) and Thymus vulgaris L. (introduced) were studied over two growth seasons at Islamic Azad University, Borujerd branch, Lorestan, Iran. The treatments consisted of four bio-fertilizers treatments i.e., mycorrhiza fungi, nitrogen-fixing free-living bacteria (NFB), phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB), and a control group, two species of Thymus sp. and two transplantation dates (November 2017 and March 2018) were also included. PSB and NFB (50 mm/lit of dissolved water) as well as mycorrhiza were applied twice: once during seed sowing in pots and again after transplanting the seedlings in the field. The results demonstrated that T. vulgaris exhibited superior performance (ranging from 31.8% to 51%) in various plant traits such as height, canopy cover, leaf area, dry leaf weight, dry shoot weight, aerial dry weight, root dry weight, shoot-to-root ratio, and root volume compared to T. daenensis. The transplantation date did not significantly affect seedling survival rate and shoot growth. However, seedlings transplanted in November had a higher root-to-shoot ratio (0.94), root dry weight (3.48 mm), root volume (3.56 m3), main root length, and mycorrhiza colonization (11.4%). In exceptionally wet year in in 2018, T. vulgaris performed better than T. daenensis. However, we anticipate T. daenensis to outperform T. vulgaris during normal and dry years, particularly with the application of PSB biofertilizer in its root medium. We recommend simultaneous comparisons of plant growth and thymol concentration under various cultivation and/or biofertilizer treatments on Thymus species in future studies.Journal of Rangeland Science (JRS)Understanding the Economic Impact of Wild Horse Management on Local CommunitiesVolume 14 (2024)Issue 4, Octopber 202420240201Understanding the Economic Impact of Wild Horse Management on Local Communities10.57647/j.jrs.2024.1404.28ENRyanM YonkAmerican Institute for Economic Research0000-0001-8789-5000ThaddeusC. MeadowsTruman State UniversityJournal Article20240201The United States has substantial public lands owned and managed by the US federal government. The economic impact of those lands has been repeatedly demonstrated by numerous studies. In parts of the Western United States managing these lands has included legislative action by the United States Congress to assist previously devastated populations of wildlife, including wild horses. The management practices used to protect Wild horses have led to large population increases and that have caused significant issues throughout the regions where they are managed. We examine the areas where Wild Horse Management Areas (HMA) are present to estimate the effects of these management practices on local economies. Using data from 1980 to 2005 we estimate a time regression that shows a negative relationship between the presence of Wild Horse Management Areas and overall wages paid to employees and tax receipts received by local governments. Further we find that despite indication of some positive effects of federal land protection those positive effects are overwhelmed by the negative effects of a HMA in counties where they are present. It is clear that the Federal Agencies in charge these management practices made decisions based on their own needs or goals that ultimately impact the county’s that are home to these lands.Journal of Rangeland Science (JRS)Assessing Intensity of Desertification and Land Rehabilitation Using the Change Vector Analysis Method (Case study: Dehshir Plain, Yazd province, Iran)Volume 14 (2024)Issue 4, Octopber 202420240201Assessing Intensity of Desertification and Land Rehabilitation Using the Change Vector Analysis Method (Case study: Dehshir Plain, Yazd province, Iran)10.57647/j.jrs.2024.1404.29ENAzamAbolhasaniPhD. of Desert Control and Management, Department of Reclamation of Arid and Mountainous Regions Faculty of Natural Resource, University of Tehran, Tehran, IranHassanKhosraviFaculty of Natural Resources, University of TehranEsmailHeydari AlamdarlooDepartment of Arid and Mountainous Reclamation Region, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Tehran, IranSaeedBarkhoriAssistant Professor, Faculty of Natural Resources, Jiroft University, Jiroft, IranJournal Article20240201Desertification is one of the main ecological and environmental problems in Iran. It is remarkably urgent to monitor and assess this phenomenon and its impact on ecosystem components such as vegetation covers to prevent and combat desertification. This study aimed to evaluate the Change Vector Analysis (CVA) method’s efficiency in assessing and monitoring desertification in Dehshir Plain, Yazd province, central Iran. For this purpose, the imagery of Landsat 5 from 1994 to 1998 (T1) and Landsat 8 from 2014 to 2018 (T2) were selected in June and July period on the Google Earth Engine platform. Then, the Bare Soil Index (BSI) and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) were calculated for the two periods. The direction and the strength of changes in NDVI and BSI were determined based on the CVA method. The results showed that 27.27% and 38.65% of the region surfaces were in degraded and rehabilitated states, respectively. The severity of degradation was higher in the central and northern parts of the study area. Adversely, rehabilitation has increased in the south, west, and east parts of the region. The results of CVA and field reality showed that this method could well reveal changes in ecosystem components over time, which is due to the comparison of two different periods using land cover indicators such as plants and soil. Our finding suggested that the CVA was an appropriate method for monitoring and assessing the desertification phenomenon and determining the area under degradation or rehabilitation in arid regions.Journal of Rangeland Science (JRS)Effects of Phenological Stages on Yield and Quality Traits of Three Halophyte Plant Species as Forage Sources and Combating Desertification in Khuzestan Province, IranVolume 14 (2024)Issue 4, Octopber 202420240201Effects of Phenological Stages on Yield and Quality Traits of Three Halophyte Plant Species as Forage Sources and Combating Desertification in Khuzestan Province, Iran10.57647/j.jrs.2024.1404.30ENKouroshBehnamfarAssistant Professor, Forests and Rangelands Research Department, Khuzestan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center (AREEO), Ahvaz, Iran0000-0003-2102-7352EhsanZandi EsfahanAssociate Professor, Rangeland Research Division, Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Tehran, Iran0000-0002-7716-0331AliAshraf JaffariResearch Institute of Forests and Reglands, Tehran, Iran0000-0002-1211-3796Journal Article20240201Halophytes have good potential for forage production and combating desertification in saline soils. The present research was aimed to investigate the effects of phenological stages (Vegetative, Flowering & Ripening) on the yield and quality of three halophytes, Atriplex leucoclada, Suaeda fruticosa, and Seidlitzia rosmarinus, in warm steppe rangelands, Khuzestan privince, Iran. Data were collected in 2015-2016 for Dry Matter (DM) yield. Quality traits included Crude Protein (CP), Dry Matter Digestibility (DMD), Water-Soluble Carbohydrates (WSC), Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF), Crude Fiber (CF), Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF), and total ash. Data were statistically analyzed using SAS9 software and means were compared using LSD 5% method. Results showed a significant difference between species, phenological stages, and their interaction for all the traits. S. fruticosa and A. leucoclada with average values of 14.45 and 12.88 t/ha had higher and lower production, respectively. In all species, with some exceptions, the DM yield, WSC, ADF, CF, and NDF increased, and CP, DMD, and ash decreased with the development stages. For S. rosmarinus, the lower and higher DM yield with values of 8.11 and 16.90 t/ha were obtained in the vegetative and flowering stages, respectively. The highest and lowest CP in S. fruticosa (17.73 and13.31%), S. rosmarinus (13.05 and 9.62%), and A. leucoclada (10.19 and5.29%) were obtained in flowering and seed ripening stages, respectively. In S. rosmarinus, DMD decreased in the flowering stage compared to the vegetative stage (from 70% to 65%), but its value increased again in the seed production stage and reached to 90%. However, in Suaeda and Atriplex, there was no significant variation at different growth stages. Our results clearly showed that Suaeda fruticosa having a higher DM yield in the flowering stage (16.20 t/ha) coupled with higher CP (18.04%) (p<0.5) recommended for cultivation as forage sources and combating desertification in Khuzestan province, Iran.Journal of Rangeland Science (JRS)Spatio-Temporal Assessment of Meteorological Droughts Effect on Vegetation Droughts in Khorasan Razavi Province, IranVolume 14 (2024)Issue 4, Octopber 202420240201Spatio-Temporal Assessment of Meteorological Droughts Effect on Vegetation Droughts in Khorasan Razavi Province, Iran10.57647/j.jrs.2024.1404.31ENPouyanDehghan RahimabadiUniversity of TehranSaharNasabpour MolaeiUniversity of TehranEsmailHeydari AlamdarlooDepartment of Arid and Mountainous Reclamation Region, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Tehran, IranSetarehBagheriUniversity of TehranHosseinAzarnivandDepartment of Reclamation of Arid and Mountainous Regions, Faculty of Natural Resources, College of Agriculture & Natural Resources, University of Tehran, KarajJournal Article20240201Vegetation cover is one of the living components of terrestrial ecosystems and plays an important role in many ecosystem processes that are strongly influenced by climatic events. Thus, meteorological droughts can significantly affect the vegetation cover, especially in arid and semi-arid regions where vegetation is more sensitive to environmental conditions. This study was conducted with the aim of analyzing the effects of meteorological droughts on the vegetation cover in different Land Use Land Cover (LULC) types in Khorasan Razavi province, Iran. For this purpose, the correlation and Linear Regression (LR) between Standardized Vegetation Index (SVI) and meteorological drought indices including Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) and Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), with 3, 6 and 12-month time scales, were investigated for the period of 2001-2020. Based on the results, it was found that SVI values were negative in the years 2001, 2006, 2008, 2011, 2014 and 2015, in all LULC types, while in 2010, moderate rangeland experienced the most severe drought. The decreasing trend of SVI (increasing vegetation drought) was mostly observed in the southern parts of the province. The correlation between SVI and 6-month SPEI occupied a wider area than the other time scales (23.07%). The highest correlation between SVI and 12-month SPI was distinguished in dense forest, sparse forest, and poor rangeland, and occupied a wider area across the province (24.08%). Moreover, the highest (1.13) and lowest (0.75) changes in the regression coefficient of variations of SVI with multitemporal SPEI and SPI were belonged to moderate forest and agricultural land, respectively. Based on the results of this study, SPEI and SPI showed completely different values in various LULC types. Therefore, any types of indicators should be separately considered to study the terrestrial ecosystems in order to better identify areas affected by meteorological drought.Journal of Rangeland Science (JRS)Nomads’ Perceptions on Nomadic Rangeland Management in Two Provinces of Iran (An Application of Grounded Theory)Volume 14 (2024)Issue 4, Octopber 202420240201Nomads’ Perceptions on Nomadic Rangeland Management in Two Provinces of Iran (An Application of Grounded Theory)10.57647/j.jrs.2024.1404.33ENAliMohebbiRangeland Research Division, Research Institute of Forests and RangelandsRosemaryBlackCharls Strut UniversityZahraFarzizadehTehran universityMahdiRamezaniFaculty of Natural Resources and Environment, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, TehranRostamKhalifehzadehResearch Institute of Forests and Rangelands (RIFR), P.O.Box 13185-116, Tehran, IranJournal Article20240201In Iran, rangeland management is based on grazing licenses that were introduced in 1963. Following the nationalization of the country's forests and rangelands, the Iranian Government began approving grazing licenses to eligible users. However, evidence suggests that this strategy was not effective in utilization and improvement of the rangelands. This study aimed to answer the question, from the nomads’ perceptions, whether the grazing licenses in the optimal rangelands management have been effective or not? The study location was the territory of the Bakhtiari pastoral nomads, who were engaged in animal husbandry in Chaharmahal & Bakhtiari and Khuzestan provinces, Iran. Data were collected using the grounded theory technique and semi-structured interview. The sampling method was purposeful and theoretical and data collection continued until theoretical saturation was reached. Content analysis was used to identify categories. Data were analyzed using open, axial and selective coding. Findings showed that six key categorizes emerged from the data: i) Grazing management is necessary to improve rangeland condition ii) the need for strict implementation of the license rules, iii) The number of livestock on the grazing license must be sustainable, iv) The problem of presence of urban dwellers with livestock grazing licenses and some real herders without grazing licenses, v) Nomads should protect natural resources, and the Government should support them, vi) the current system of livestock grazing licenses is not sustainable in balancing between livestock number and rangeland production. The central category was, "Inefficiency of animal grazing license in creating balances between livestock and pasture"; as a result, the creation of jobs for surplus herders in outside of pastures was introduced as an important strategy to solve the problem. The findings suggest a new management regime needed to achieve a balance between grazing and rangeland management.Journal of Rangeland Science (JRS)Investigating the Relationship between Soil Properties and Morphological Traits and Volatile Oil Components of Ferula assa-foetida L. under Habitat Conditions in Kerman Province, IranVolume 14 (2024)Issue 4, Octopber 202420240201Investigating the Relationship between Soil Properties and Morphological Traits and Volatile Oil Components of Ferula assa-foetida L. under Habitat Conditions in Kerman Province, Iran10.57647/j.jrs.2024.1404.34ENVahidEbrahimianDepartment of Forest, Range and Watershed Management, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad university, Tehran, IranHosseinAzarnivandDepartment of Reclamation of Arid and Mountainous Regions, Faculty of Natural Resources, College of Agriculture & Natural Resources, University of Tehran, KarajSeyedAkbar JavadiDepartment of Rangeland Management, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran0000-0001-6024-7345Journal Article20240201Ferula assa-foetida L. is an endangered and important medicinal plant in Iran. The knowledge of its ecological relationships will lead to plant conservation and reproduction objectives and better economic performance. This research was aimed to investigate the relationship between soil factors and plant morphology and oil components of the F. assa-foetida under habitat conditions in Kerman province in 2021. Morphological and latex traits of 20 plant stands were evaluated in a plain area. Soil samples were also taken from a depth of 0-30 cm under plant stands for analyzing its physiochemical properties. In order to identify the ecological relationships between soil and plant factors, the data were subjected to Pearson correlation and Principal Component Analysis )PCA). The results showed that morphological traits of the F. assa-foetida stands and quantitative and qualitative traits of latex had significant relationships with soil fertility traits (i.e. Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Organic matter(. Plant factors i.e. leave diamete, thousand seed weight, root diameter, and seed production per plant were positively correlated with soil fertility factors (P<0.01). Moreover, from 21 components identified in the F. assa-foetida volatile essential oil, Bicyclo 3.1.1, heptane,6,6-dimet..., Carbonothioic dihydrazide, Thiopropionamide and Naphthalene, 1,2,3,5,6,8a-hexahy were positively correlated with soil fertility factors (P<0.01) and in contrast, n-Propyl sec-butyl disulfide and 1,3,6-0ctatriene, 3,7-dimethyl were negatively correlated with soil fertility factors (P<0.01). In general, the morphological traits and the quality of plant latex are under the direct influence of both the fertility and the physical traits of the soil; so, the results are important for management and economic purposes.