A model for classification of range suitability for sheep grazing in semi-arid regions of Iran

摘要

Rangesuitabilityanditsgrazingcapabilityarethemostimportantcriteriainrangelandanalysisandmonitoring.Determinationandmonitoringoffactorsaffectingonrangesuitabilityanddiagnosisofthemareimportant.Allrangeecosystemcomponentsaffectrangesuitability.Whichamongthemphysicalandvegetationfactors,forageproduction,waterresourcesandsensitivitytoerosionwereconsidered.TheobjectiveofthisresearchwastodeterminerangesuitabilityofGharehAghachrangelandstodesignamodelforsheepgrazing.GharehAghachwatershedwithanareaof8,962hectareslocatedinthenortheastofIsfahanprovince,insemi-aridofIran,waschosenasasuitablestudyareaforcreatingamodelforclassifyingrangelandsuitability.Simplemodelsoftopography,forageproduction,waterresources(quantity,qualityanddistance),anderosionwereintegratedwithinaGeographicInformationSystemsoastocreateacomprehensivefinalmodelforassessingthesuitabilityofspecificrangelandsforsustainablesheepgrazing.nbsp;Theresultsofthecompletedoverallmodelofrangelandsuitabilityforsustainablesheepgrazingshowedthatofthe7159hectaresinthestudyarea,15.73%(1,126ha)weremoderatelysuitable,68.67%(4,916ha)aremarginallysuitableand15.6%(1116ha)wereclassifiedasunsuitableforgrazing.Themostimportantlimitingfactorsintheareaweretheabundanceofinvaderplantspecies,especiallyaroundthewateringpointsandvillages,lowrangeproductivity,erosion,slopeclasses(relativelyflattosteepgradients),accesstoqualitywaterresourcesandlowtemperaturesduringwinterandautumn.