Information Bank of Phytoremedial Plants in Arid and Semi-Arid Rangeland Ecosystems

Accumulation of heavy elements by human activities in ecosystems and food chains created hazards for human, plants and ecosystems. Among different methods of managing heavy elements in the environment, using phytoremedial plants has emerged as an efficient way to reduce the concentration of heavy metals in soils (Shtangeeva, 2008). This research examines the efficiency of this heavy metal reduction strategy in dry rangeland ecosystems

Factors Affecting Rangeland Utilization by Ranchers in the Golestan Rangelands, Iran

In Iran, rangelands produce most of the forage resources for livestock. There are various types of traditional grazing systems for the utilization of rangelands, including the consultative, collective and operational multiplayer systems. In the consultative type, certain people are selected by the ranchers and they determine the utilization method and manage grazing. In the collective system, all ranchers use rangeland in common. In the operational multiplayer system, rangelands are used in common but the ranchers share rangelands by rancher-rancher negotiation. This research was undertaken to investigate the human factors as rancher\u27s effect on rangeland utilization in different systems above mentioned

Investigation of the Fire Effects on Some Physico-Chemical Characteristics of Soil (Case Study: Miankaleh Rangeland, Iran)

Fire is one of the ecological factors that can have positive and negative effects on ecosystem processes. Nevertheless, prescribed burning is considered to be an important tool for grassland management, particularly to manipulate the balance between grasses and shrubs (Scheintaub et al. 2009). In Iran, for example, Khodagholi et al. (2001) in the Samirom rangelands of Isfahan Province suggest that fire reduces the shrubs cover and production and leads to the expansion of grasses. Sharifi and Imani (2006) showed that in the semi-steppe of Khalkhal Province shrub cover decreased in contrast to permanent grasses after fire was applied. However, others report that fire can reduce production and plant diversity due to affects on the range soil properties. This research investigated the effects of fire on some soil physico-chemical characteristics in the Miankaleh rangeland in northern Iran

Mineral Content in Some Species of Leguminosae in Bandar Torkaman Plain Rangelands, Iran

Improving the forage quality and balance of their minerals in rangeland ecosystems is important for rangeland managers to improve livestock productivity (Mohamed et al. 2003; Epstein and Bloom 2005). This research investigated the amount of several minerals; Calcium (Ca), Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K) and Magnesium (Mg), in some important species of Leguminosae including Medicago sativa, Trifolium repens, Trifolium pratense and Lathyrus pratensis, that are grazed by livestock in the Bandar Torkaman plain rangelands in north of Iran