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The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of exclusion (20 years) on the attributes of soil and vegetation in northwest of Iran. Three sites in grazed and three sites in exclusion areas were selected. At each site, three 100 m transects were established for sampling purposes. Soil attributes, including electrical conductivity, pH, calcium carbonate, organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, clay, silt, calcium, magnesium, and bicarbonate were measured in the lab. Additionally, the primary and secondary attributes of vegetation including density, canopy cover, aboveground net primary production (ANPP) of plant functional types (PFTs), diversity, richness and evenness indices were recorded. The findings of our study indicate that the exclusion site exhibited significantly higher levels of soil organic carbon (1.91%), total nitrogen (0.95%), available phosphorus (1.75 ppm), and soluble potassium (163.52 ppm) compared to the grazed site. However, no significant differences were observed in other soil characteristics between the two sites. Density, canopy cover percentage, ANPP of PFTs (p <.01), diversity (1.92), and richness index (9.64), were higher in the exclusion area (p <.05), while, evenness showed no significant difference. The total species density and canopy cover within the exclusion area were also found to be higher than in grazed areas. Results suggest that exclusion in semi-arid semi-steppes plays an important role in rangeland management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objectives: This study investigates the ecological, economic, and social factors contributing to rangeland degradation in the Namin region of Ardabil, Iran. The research aims to identify key factors affecting rangeland degradation from the perspective of pastoralists, providing insights for targeted interventions and sustainable management practices. Methodology: The study focused on the rural areas of the Namin region in Ardabil province, with a specific focus on ranchers. The research population included rural ranchers with prior experience in utilizing rangelands. A total of 21 villages were selected as the sample for data collection, which took place during the spring of 2021 through field visits and interviews. The researchers used a questionnaire to collect information, covering general characteristics of the community under study as well as 33 ecological, social, and economic indicators. After identifying villages with a history of using rangelands, the researchers determined a sample size of about 5% of households in each village, based on the number of households in each village. The questionnaires were then completed through face-to-face visits, observations, and interviews in the target villages, using stratified random sampling. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data and identify general characteristics of the statistical communities. The Friedman test was used to rank the indicators, and exploratory factor analysis was conducted to examine the factors influencing rangeland degradation. Data analysis was performed using SPSSVer.22 software. Results: The results of the Friedman test revealed that the indicators "the role of rangeland survey" had an average ranking of 23.57. In addition, "the effect of using stubble pasture" had an average ranking of 23.17, and "the impact of the government's actions against violators" had an average ranking of 23.13. These indicators, as per user opinions, played a crucial role in mitigating rangeland degradation in the region. The results of the factor analysis revealed that 10 factors had an eigenvalue greater than 1, explaining 71.96% of the data variance. Additionally, the results of the principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that a combination of indicators, based on factor coefficients, contributed to the identification of ten factors influencing socio-economic security, livestock fodder availability, differences in rangeland utilization among ranchers, participation in rangeland improvement and management projects, communal exploitation practices, land use changes, interest in livestock farming within rangelands, awareness and utilization levels, education and advertising efforts, as well as promotion and facilities. These factors were found to significantly impact the degradation of rangelands in the region. The lack of investment opportunities, entrepreneurship, and employment creation, as well as low income and the absence of suitable jobs, administrative corruption, non-compliance with legal regulations, and inadequate control over the stocking rate (including animals included in the grazing permit), were identified as the primary factors contributing to the degradation of rangelands in the Namin region. These factors were deemed to be of utmost importance in exacerbating the issue. Additionally, other contributing components with a smaller percentage have also played a role in the degradation of rangelands in the region. Conclusion: The study highlights the multifaceted nature of factors contributing to rangeland degradation, emphasizing the importance of addressing ecological, economic, and social dimensions. Pastoralist perspectives play a crucial role in identifying indicators for mitigating degradation, and targeted interventions should focus on comprehensive studies to reinforce these factors. Key recommendations include addressing investment opportunities, employment creation, income enhancement, regulatory compliance, and effective control over stocking rates to promote sustainable rangeland management in the Namin region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objectives: Migration is the movement of people from one ecological region to another, it may be on temporary or permanent basis. Migration is a selective mechanism that impacts individuals and households economically, socially, educationally, and demographically, and it is an important phenomenon that many economists, particularly in developing countries, have addressed. Due to the varying situations in Ardabil province's rural areas, five counties (each with one watershed containing several villages) were chosen for this study, and the economic factors affecting rural-urban migration to ranchers were investigated. Methodology: The current research was carried out in the Ardabil province, in 2020. The five counties of Ardabil, Nir, Namin, Sarein, and Kosar were initially evaluated, with a watershed in each chosen. In the next step, four villages from Ardabil's Kaftaragh watershed, three villages from Namin's Saqezchichae, nine villages from Sarein's Darvishchae, nine villages from Kosar's Likvanchae, and eight villages from Nir's Siahpoosh were chosen as statistical communities. In total, the statistical community includes ranchers from five counties and 33 villages in Ardabil province. The research method was descriptive-analytical and the data collection techniques were questionnaire, observation, face-to-face interview and village population statistics. The questionnaire included some descriptive features of the villages, village residents and also 11 economic factors. The sample size based on Cochran's formula was estimated to be 372 people. Following that, the proportion of each watershed in the total sample size was calculated, and information was gathered through in-depth interviews and the completion of a questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were employed to extract the features of the statistical population. A single-sample t-test was used to assess the overall status of economic factors affecting ranchers' migration. In addition, the Friedman test was utilized to rank the most important factors affecting migration and the Kruskal- Wallis test was performed to look for significant differences between villages in terms of economic factors that influence migration. Results: The results showed that 0.3% of the respondents with the lowest frequency had agricultural job and 85.5% with the highest frequency had the main job of livestock and agriculture. According to the findings, the average income in the agricultural sector is 167.6 million Iranian Rial, while the average income in the livestock sector is 309.1 million Iranian Rial. The income from livestock is nearly double that from agriculture, indicating that the research ranchers' economy in the study area is more dependent on livestock. Moreover, the findings revealed that the most important economic factors affecting rural-urban migration were the lack of interest of the youth in continuing and expanding agricultural and livestock activities (mean rank = 9.78), more economic opportunities and access to higher- paying jobs in urban (mean rank = 9.56) and inequality of urban and rural facilities and welfare and livelihood services (mean rank = 8.88). Conclusion: In general, since economic components are one of the most influential factors in rural-urban migration, it is possible using economic development of rural areas, attention to the needs of ranchers and especially the youth, reducing income inequality, increasing economic justice, increasing the attractiveness of rural jobs, infrastructure development, improving amenities, creating sustainable employment in rural areas, etc., to reduced rural-urban migration and even reverse urban-rural migration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This case study examined the effect of grazing exclusion on the soil and vegetation characteristics to provide support for the restoration of the degraded desert steppe rangelands of the Arshagh ecoregion. Six sampling sites were selected (three overgrazed and three not grazed sites) from the ecoregion. Vegetation sampling (1 m2 area at 10 intervals) was carried out along 18 pieces of 90 m long transects. Soil samples were collected from the plots at the beginning, middle, and end of each transect from 0–15 cm depths and then combined to get one sample per transect. Differences between vegetation and soil properties of the grazing exclusion and overgrazed sites were analyzed using the t-test statistic. Species richness index (2.32), the diversity index (1.87), and plant cover (69.46%) were maximum at sites after 20-years of grazing exclusion. All species of plant functional types at the exclusion sites were significantly (p < 0.05) different from those at the overgrazed site. Total aboveground net primary production was greater at the exclusion sites (56.50 g/m2) than at the overgrazed sites. Soil pH was significantly (p < 0.05) higher at the exclusion site than at the overgrazed sites. Electrical conductivity was significantly higher at the overgrazed sites than at the exclusion sites. These results imply that livestock exclusion plays an important role in such vegetation parameters as the diversity, cover and soil properties of degraded rangeland ecosystems. Moreover, grazing exclusion in Arshagh rangelands may be a promising management option for the restoration of such rangelands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to assess preference values for plant species in the Kordan rangeland using multivariate analysis techniques. Measurements were taken for forage production each month for the duration of the study. A species selection index was used to assess values for species’ preference. The additive effects of data obtained from four years’ study and in three growth stages were examined with factorial analysis. Comparisons of values for species’ preference were determined by Duncan's test. Multiplicative interaction was used to examine multiplicative effects and additive main effects. The results of ANOVA for preference values for species selected for the study during four years and during the specified grazing months showed meaningful difference for main effects of species and months. Interactions between species and month and among year, species and month were also meaningful at the level of 0.01. Based on the additive main effect and the multiplicative interaction (AMMI) model or the interaction analysis of preference index,Ajuga chamaecistusGing. ex Benth was identified as the most stable species andBromus tomentellusBoiss andStipa hohenckerianaTrin. & Rupr were determined as unstable species. The AMMI model demonstrated that, in general, some species had different preference values. Some species were determined as palatable early in the season while others were palatable late in the season. In addition the species ofS. hohenckeriana,B. tomentellus, andA. chamaecistushad the highest evaluations for palatability, andA. chamaecistusalso had a good evaluation for stability of palatability during the grazing season and can therefore be introduced as desirable species. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This research was carried out to assessing the potential of Bromus tomentellus for phytoremediation with biochar and municipal waste compost amendments to improving the clean-up efficiency of soils contaminated with chromium (Cr) and zinc (Zn). Soil amendment was added to contaminated soil in three levels (%0: Control; without organic fertilizer, biochar and compost 1%, biochar and compost 2%). It also determines the applicability of artificial neural network (ANN) in the modeling of the extraction process. The physiochemical properties of the contaminated soil, including pH, Electrical Conductivity (ECe), Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) and Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR) were determined. After validation of the applied artificial neural network, the effect of municipal waste compost and biochar treatment on the absorption of heavy metals in different parts of the plant was investigated. Also, the range of adding amending factors to the soil through the neural network increased from 2% in experimental data to 5% in predicting data. The neural network was taught for heavy metals in soil and plant, so the amount of Correlation coefficient (R2) value in most cases was higher than 0.9 and close to 1 which means the Group Method of Data Handling (GMDH) and artificial neural network was usable for over-predicting data. The results indicated that by adding compost percentage, the absorption of Zn is also increased. The highest concentration of Zn (274.82 mg/kg) and Cr (26.66 mg/kg) was observed by adding 0.8% compost and 0.52% biochar, respectively. The maximum Cr concentration for compost (25.19 mg/kg) was detected by adding 1% compost. • Application of urban waste compost and biochar are more efficient on the potential of Bromus tomentellus to accumulate chromium and zinc • Biochar has a potential of improveing soil properties • The highest concentrations of Zn was observed by adding 0.8% compost • The highest Cr concentration for compost was detected by adding 1% compost [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]