The impact of utilization of rangelands on soil carbon mineralization kinetics ( Case study: Saderabad of Nodoushan steppe (rangelands in Yazd province

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Watershed and Rangeland Management, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran

2 Corresponding author, Natural Resources and Desert Studies, Department of Watershed and Rangeland Management, Yazd University, Yazd

Abstract

Grazing affects the nutrient cycle in the soil. Therefore, in order to investigate the effect of rangeland utilization on vegetation and as a result of carbon mineralization kinetics, Sadrabad Nodoshan rangelands of Yazd province were selected.The canopy cover and production was measured in three areas of enclosure, medium grazing and heavy grazing. Soil samples were sampled from a depth of 0-15 cm in a systematic random method. First, nitrogen, carbon, carbon to nitrogen ratio (C / N) of plant samples, nitrogen, carbon, lime, soil texture, pH, soil EC were measured. Then the soils of severe grazing area were selected for treatment and by increasing by 1% the organic carbon of Artemisia sieberi and Peganum harmala including control of 100% of Ar.si, 75% Ar.si and 25% Pe.ha., 50 % Ar.si and 50% Pe.ha, 25 Ar.si and 75% Pe.ha and 100 % Pe.ha were treated. The results showed Pe.ha residues have good degradability due to having less C / N than Ar.si. In all treatments, the process of carbon mineralization in the two study areas had an exponential distribution. Organic carbon mineralization in the soil of the two areas under Heavy grazing and exclusion is similar during the first week, but over time, carbon mineralization in the heavy grazing soil treatment with 100% Pe.ha is higher than other treatments. Therefore, the rate of carbon to biodegradation in areas with heavy grazing, is high and these lands have less carbon stabilization.

Keywords


-Ajwa, H.A. and Tabatabai, M.A., 1994. Decomposition of different organic materials in soil. Biology and Fertility of Soils, 18: 175-12.
-Alexandra, M., 1999. Biodegradation and bioremedation. Academic Press, New York, 435p.
-Azhar, E.S., Cleemput, O.V. and Verstrnete, W., 1986. Nitrification mediated nitrogen immobilization in soil. Plant and Soil, 94(3): 401-409.
-Baghestani-Maybodi, N., 2003. An investigation into short-term effects of different intensities of goat grazing: Some characteristics of vegetation and livestock performance in steppe pastures of Yazd. Unpublished PhD dissertation, University of Tehran, 216p.
-Baghestani Maybodi, N., Zare, M.T. and Abdollahi, J., 2007. Effects of 2-decade livestock exclusion on vegetation changes in steppic rangelands of Yazd province. Iranian Journal of Range and Desert Research, 13(4): 336-346 (In Persian).
-Bertrand, I., Chabbert, B., Kurek. B. and Recous, S., 2006. Can the biochemical their decomposition in soil?. Plant Soil, 281: 291-307.
-Bogale, A., Teab, M. and Endo, M., 2006. Land ownership and conflict over the use of resourse: implication for household vulnerability in eastern Ethiopia. Journal of Ecological Economics, 58: 134-145.
-Bremmer, J.M. and Mulvaney, C.S., 1982. Methods of soil analysis: part 2 chemical and microbiological properties, chapter 31, total nitrogen. Soil Science Society of America, Inc., pp. 595-624.
-Fakhimi Abargouei, A., 2007. The effect of different grazing on pasture litter and vegetation in the steppe Nodoushan Yazd. Msc theses, Tehran University, 186p. (In Persian).
-Gholami, M. and Shokri, M., 2011. Changes in diversity, richness and functional groups of vegetation in different grazing (Case Study: Fars). Iranian Journal Range and Desert research, 18(4): 662-675 (In Persian).
-Goering, H.K. and Van Soests, P.J., 1970. Forage fiber analysis (Apparatus, reagents, procedures and some applications). USAD Hand book NO. 397. US. Government printing office. Washington, DC, 24p.
-Han, G., Hao, X., Zhao, M., Wang, M., Ellert, B.H., Willms, W. and Wang, M., 2008. Effect of grazing intensity on carbon and nitrogen in soil and vegetation in a meadow steppe in Inner Mongolia. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 125: 21-32.
-Haynes, R.J. and Naidu, R., 1998. Influence of lime fertilizer and manure applications on soil organic matter content and soil physical conditions: a review. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems, 51: 123-137.
-Hesse, P.R., 1970. A text book of soil chemical analysis. Chemical Engineering and Technology, 520p.
-Javadi, S.A., Jafari, M., Azarnivand, H. and Zahedi Amiri, G.H., 2004. Investigation of grazing effects on plant composition and diversity of Lar rangeland. The 3th National Congress on Range and Range Management of Iran, Tehran, Iran, pp.702-707 (In Persian).
-Karimi, G.H., Mozafari, S. and Nikbakht, M., 2008. Effects of livestock and pasture management on the vegetation dynamics (production, canopy cover, and palatability class composition) in Kohgiluyeh Boyer pastures Margoon Station. Journal of Research in Iran Rangelands and Desert, 21(3): 353-361 (In Persian).
-Kosheleva, Y.P. and Trofimov, S.Y., 2008. Characteristics of the biochemical compositionof plant litter at different stages of decomposition (According to thermal analysis data). Biology Bulletin, 35: 64-69.
-Li, L.J., Zeng, D.H., Yu, Z.Y., Fan, Z.P., Yang, D. and Liu, U.X., 2011. Impact of litter quality and soil nutrient availability on leaf decomposition rate in a semi –arid grassland of Northeast China. Journal of Arid Environments, 75(9): 787-792.
-Moghadam, M., 2003. Pastoralists in Iran. University of Imam Reza (AS) Astan Quds Razavi, 333p (In Persian).
-Nelson, D.W. and Sommers, L.P., 1986. Total carbon, organic carbonand organic matter. In: Page, A.L., (Eds.), Method of Soil Analysis, Part II. American Society of Agronomy, Madison, Wisconsin, USA, pp. 539-579.
-Noy-Meir, I., Gutman, M. and Kaplan, Y., 1989. Responses of Mediterranean grassland plants to grazing and protection. Journal of Ecology, 77: 290–310.
-Pare, T., Dinel, H., Schnizer, M. and Dumontet, S., 1998. Transformation of carbon and nitrogen during composting of animal manure and shredded paper. Biology and Fertility of Soils, 26: 173-178.
-Perez-Harguindeguy, N., Diaz, S., Cornelissen, J.H.C., Vendramini, F., Cabido, M. and Castellanos, A., 2000. Chemistry and toughness predict leaf litter decomposition rates over wide spectrum of functional types and taxa in central Argentina. Plant and Soil, 218: 21-30.
-Rashtian, A., 2009. Determination of palatability and nutritional value of rangeland species in steppe areas of Yazd province (Case study: Nodoshan rangelands). PHD thesis. Gorgan University, Iran.
-Reeder, J.D. and Schuman, G.E., 2002. Influence of livestock grazing on C sequestration in semi-arid mixed-grass and short-grass rangelands. Environmental Pollution, 116: 457-463.
-Tahmasebi, P., 2008. Rangeland ecosystems analysis, Pelk published, 276p (In Persian).
-Tian, G., Kang, B.T. and Brussaard, L., 1992. Biological effects of plant residues with contrasting chemical composition under humid tropical condition decomposition and nutrient release. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 24: 1051-1060.
-Vanai, F., Karami, P., Joundi Jafari, H. and Banielahi, K., 2017. Simulating the dynamics of organic carbon in grassland ecosystems under different management conditions using model CENTURY. Journal of Rangelands, 10(4): 439-449.