Mountainous rangelands play a pivotal role in providing forage resources for livestock, particularly in summer, and maintaining ecological balance. This study aimed to identify environmental variables affecting range ...Mountainous rangelands play a pivotal role in providing forage resources for livestock, particularly in summer, and maintaining ecological balance. This study aimed to identify environmental variables affecting range plant species distribution, ecological analysis of the relationship between these variables and the distribution of plants, and to model and map the plant habitats suitability by the Random Forest Method(RFM) in rangelands of the Taftan Mountain, Sistan and Baluchestan Province, southeastern Iran. In order to determine the environmental variables and estimate the potential distribution of plant species, the presence points of plants were recorded by using systematic random sampling method(90 points of presence) and soils were sampled in 5 habitats by random method in 0–30 and 30–60 cm depths. The layers of environmental variables were prepared using the Kriging interpolation method and Geographic Information System facilities. The distribution of the plant habitats was finally modelled and mapped by the RFM. Continuous maps of the habitat suitability were converted to binary maps using Youden Index(?) in order to evaluate the accuracy of the RFM in estimation of the distribution of species potentialhabitat. Based on the values of the area under curve(AUC) statistics, accuracy of predictive models of all habitats was in good level. Investigating the agreement between the predicted map, generated by each model, and actual maps, generated from fieldmeasured data, of the plant habitats, was at a high level for all habitats, except for Amygdalus scoparia habitat. This study concluded that the RFM is a robust model to analyze the relationships between the distribution of plant species and environmental variables as well as to prepare potential distribution maps of plant habitats that are of higher priority for conservation on the local scale in arid mountainous rangelands.展开更多
[Objective] To provide a theoretical basis for high-yield breeding of broom sorghum.[Method] Using 11 kinds of broom sorghum collected at home as research objects, the differences in morphological characteristics of b...[Objective] To provide a theoretical basis for high-yield breeding of broom sorghum.[Method] Using 11 kinds of broom sorghum collected at home as research objects, the differences in morphological characteristics of broom sorghum were compared through the survey of some indicators, such as plant height, tillering, inflorescence, stem node, stem-leaf ratio, yield, and so on. [Result] The 11 kinds of broom sorghum were different in morphological characteristics with large amplitude of plant height; zygl-1, zygl-6, zygl-8 and zygl-9 were appropriate for fixed broom type; zygl-9 had the highest integrated production. [Condusion] The study laid the foundation for further exploring breeding, cultivation and promotion of broom sorghum.展开更多
On the Kpinnou ranch in Benin, it was observed that the Girolando dairy cattle which graze Panieum maximum var. CI are more susceptible to infestation of ticks. The purpose of this study was to highlight the interacti...On the Kpinnou ranch in Benin, it was observed that the Girolando dairy cattle which graze Panieum maximum var. CI are more susceptible to infestation of ticks. The purpose of this study was to highlight the interactions between ticks and their bovine hosts and two types of artificial grazing pastures. Nineteen young Girolando dairy cattle were used during the big rainy season （March-June） 2009. All present ticks on the animals have been counted according to the body region. The bovine have been divided into two relatively homogeneous groups often and nine animals. The group I of 10 animals had been grazed on Panicum maximum whereas the group 2 of 9 animals had been grazed on Panicum maximum var. C 1. During the two months of grazing, a weekly monitoring of the evolution of the load in ticks has been achieved. Four genera of ticks were identified on the bovine Girolandos （Amblyomma, Hyalomma, Rhipicephalus and Boophilus）. The Boophilus genus is the most abundant （P 〈 0.05）. The animals having grazed Panicum maximum var. C I are more infested than those that have been grazed Panicum maximum. A variation of the rate of infestation of the animals has been observed in relation to the different body areas. The colour of the coat also has an effect on the load in tick of the bovine. The bovine of dark coat are in general more infested （P 〈 0.05） than those of clear colour.展开更多
Napier grass （Pennisetum purpureum Schumach）, a C4 tropical plant, has high dry matter productivity and sustainability without the need for renovating every year due to good overwintering ability and the absence of ...Napier grass （Pennisetum purpureum Schumach）, a C4 tropical plant, has high dry matter productivity and sustainability without the need for renovating every year due to good overwintering ability and the absence of serious pathogens or insects injury. This grass is suitable for multipurpose use, providing forage, bioethanol feedstock and phytoremediation of cadmium （Cd） contaminated soil in Kyushu, Japan. When two cultivars of Napier grass （Wruk wona, WK and Merkeron, ME） were grown in Cd-contaminated soils, dry matter yield and the concentration and uptake of herbage Cd were higher in WK than in ME, and soil Cd concentration was reduced by 14% in a single season of cultivation. A dwarf variety of late-heading type （DL）, Napier grass had superior sustainability for more than 5 years in Miyazaki, Japan, and has gradually increased in cultivation areas for both cut-and-carry and grazing herbage production in cooperation with regional communities. Through the extension in several Kyushu areas, DL Napier grass required temperatures above -6.2 ~C for sustainability in winter, based on its threshold response to the lethal minimum temperature. DL Napier grass pasture can be utilized by grazing beef cattle even in early spring with temperate Italian ryegrass inter-sown into its inter-row spaces. Organic digested animal manure or sun-dried leguminous leaves as green manure can replace chemical fertilizers to reduce energy consumption and allow comparable productivity.展开更多
Based on the data of resources,environment and foundation of productio n,applying principal compo-nents-clustering quantitative analysis,this article divides the maritime space of Changshan Islands into three regions ...Based on the data of resources,environment and foundation of productio n,applying principal compo-nents-clustering quantitative analysis,this article divides the maritime space of Changshan Islands into three regions of agricultural-pasturalization,pr oviding a scientific basis for the ra tional distribution of marine culti vation.The three re-gions are as follows:1)The region of an agricultural-pastu ralization in the northern part of ma ritime space.It includes Da Wangjia and Shicheng islands.The ma in production is cultivation of praw n and molluscs in sea beach,float raft culture of mussel in shallow sea and scallop,and breeding of sea cucumber in subma rine.2)The region of agricultur-al-pasturalization in the middle we stern part of maritime space.It includes Da Changshan and Guanglu island s,and west-ern part of Xiao Chengshan Island.The main production is float raft cultu re of mussel and scallop in shallow se a,and breed-ing of sea cucumber in submarine.3)The region of agricultural-pastura lization of the southeastern part of maritime space.It includes the eastern part of Xiao ChangShan Island,Haiyang and Zhangzi islands.The main production is bre eding of abalone,sea cucumber,algaes and fish.展开更多
Controlled grazing is considered a good management strategy to maintain or increase the live weight of livestock and to reduce vegetation degradation of rangelands. The present study investigated soil characteristics,...Controlled grazing is considered a good management strategy to maintain or increase the live weight of livestock and to reduce vegetation degradation of rangelands. The present study investigated soil characteristics, aboveground vegetation biomass dynamics and controlled grazinginduced changes in the live weight of local ewes in the semi-arid rangeland of Ahmadun, Ziarat, Balochistanprovince of Pakistan. An area of 115 ha was protected from livestock grazing in April 2014. In June 2015, soil characteristics within 0-30 cm depth i.e. soil organic matter(SOM), mineral nitrogen, p H and texture in controlled and uncontrolled grazing sites were assessed. Aboveground vegetation biomass measured in early(June) and late summer(August) in 2015 and 2016. The nutritional value i.e. crude protein, phosphorus(P), neutral detergent fiber(NDF), acid detergent fiber(ADF), calcium(Ca), magnesium(Mg) and potassium(K) of dominantplant species were assessed at the beginning of experiment in 2015. Vegetation cover of controlled and uncontrolled grazing sites was also measured during the two years of the study period using the Veg Measure software. From June to November in2015 and 2016, controlled and uncontrolled livestock grazing sites were grazed on a daily basis by local ewes with a stocking rate of 2 and 1 head ha^(-1) respectively. Results reveal that the organic matter contents of coarse-textured, slightly alkaline soil of the study site were in the range of 9.4-17.6 g kg^(-1) soil and showed a strong positive correlation with aboveground vegetation biomass. The biomass of plants was 56.5% and 33% greater at controlled than uncontrolled grazing site in 2015 and 2016 respectively and plant cover was also higher at controlled than uncontrolled grazing site in both years The nutrient contents were significantly(P<0.05)lower in grasses than shrubs. In both years, the controlled grazing increased the weight gain of ewes about two folds compared to the uncontrolled grazing.The results indicate that controlled grazing improved the vegetation biomass production and small ruminant productivity.展开更多
Rangelands occupy 51% of the terrestrial land surface, 23% total land of Nepal. It contains about 36% of the world＇s total carbon in above and belowground biomass. Rangelands can aid in the mitigation of rising atmos...Rangelands occupy 51% of the terrestrial land surface, 23% total land of Nepal. It contains about 36% of the world＇s total carbon in above and belowground biomass. Rangelands can aid in the mitigation of rising atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations via carbon storage in biomass and soil organic matter. A study on carbon stock on soil and vegetation at various altitudinal gradients in Milke-Jaljale rangeland area of Eastern Nepal was made. The study was carried out at three altitudinal gradients （above sea levels） Milke （3,000 m）, Gorujure （3,500 m） and Jaljale （4,000 m）. This method required establishing a transect line. Sample points were located by pacing the appropriate distances from the point of origin at a transect line. To determine distribution and quantity of plant carbon and soil organic carbon （SOC）, 45 sample points were established and 15 points were sampled from each study site. Total soil carbon was estimated as follows： 17.65 t/ha at Milke, 17.27 t/ha at Gorujure and 28.33 t/ha at Jaljale. Similarly, total vegetation carbon was estimated 22.68 t/ha at Milke, 29.79 t/ha at Gorujure and 42.54 t/ha at Jaljale. Highest elevation study site with least external disturbance （Jaljale area） had high storage of carbon in both cases vegetation and soil.展开更多
Developing countries must consider the influence of anthropogenic dynamics on changes in rangeland habitats. This study explores happened degradation in 178 rangeland management plans for Northeast Iran in three main ...Developing countries must consider the influence of anthropogenic dynamics on changes in rangeland habitats. This study explores happened degradation in 178 rangeland management plans for Northeast Iran in three main steps:(1) conducting a trend analysis of rangeland degradation and anthropogenic dynamics in 1986–2000 and 2000–2015,(2) visualizing the effects of anthropogenic drivers on rangeland degradation using bivariate local spatial autocorrelation(BiLISA), and(3) quantifying spatial dependence between anthropogenic driving forces and rangeland degradation using spatial regression approaches. The results show that 0.77% and 0.56% of rangelands are degraded annually during the first and second periods. The BiLISA results indicate that dry-farming, irrigated farming and construction areas were significant drivers in both periods and grazing intensity was a significant driver in the second period. The spatial lag(SL) model(wi=0.3943, Ei=1.4139) with two drivers of dry-farming and irrigated farming in the first period and the spatial error(SE) model(wi=0.4853, Ei=1.515) with livestock density, dry-farming and irrigated farming in the second period showed robust performance in quantifying the driving forces of rangeland degradation. To conclude, the BiLISA maps and spatial models indicate a serious intensification of the anthropogenic impacts of ongoing conditions on the rangelands of northeast Iran in the future.展开更多
Changes in soil organic carbon(SOC) in rangelands has been extensively investigated. Grazing in outlying rangeland areas has caused severe impacts on ecosystem functions. To reveal the effects of grazing on SOC, we ev...Changes in soil organic carbon(SOC) in rangelands has been extensively investigated. Grazing in outlying rangeland areas has caused severe impacts on ecosystem functions. To reveal the effects of grazing on SOC, we evaluated the grassland in Xilin Gol League, Inner Mongolia, China. Grazing intensity was determined by using two image sets of vegetation index with normalized differences in grazing periods(July 12 th and 28th). The range of variation in vegetation index was then used to measure the grazing intensity. The SOC storage and density were obtained by conducting experiments on field soil samples. Results showed that 1) the grazing intensity in Xilin Gol League declined gradually from west to east; by contrast, the spatial distribution of SOC density increased gradually. 2) As grazing intensity increased, the carbon storage of rangeland decreased evidently. Minimum carbon storage was observed in grasslands classified under extreme overgrazing; by comparison, maximum values were found in areas classified under light overgrazing to moderate grazing. 3) The estimated soil carbon storage was 8.48 × 10^(11) kg, and the average carbon density was 4.08 kg/m^2. Our research demonstrated that grazing intensity likely affects soil carbon. Moderate grazing is an optimum strategy to maintain carbon storage and ensure sustainable grassland utilization.展开更多
基金funded by University of Zabol,Iran(Grant No.UOZ-GR-9517-24)the Vice Chancellery for Research and Technology,University of Zabol,for funding this study
文摘Mountainous rangelands play a pivotal role in providing forage resources for livestock, particularly in summer, and maintaining ecological balance. This study aimed to identify environmental variables affecting range plant species distribution, ecological analysis of the relationship between these variables and the distribution of plants, and to model and map the plant habitats suitability by the Random Forest Method(RFM) in rangelands of the Taftan Mountain, Sistan and Baluchestan Province, southeastern Iran. In order to determine the environmental variables and estimate the potential distribution of plant species, the presence points of plants were recorded by using systematic random sampling method(90 points of presence) and soils were sampled in 5 habitats by random method in 0–30 and 30–60 cm depths. The layers of environmental variables were prepared using the Kriging interpolation method and Geographic Information System facilities. The distribution of the plant habitats was finally modelled and mapped by the RFM. Continuous maps of the habitat suitability were converted to binary maps using Youden Index(?) in order to evaluate the accuracy of the RFM in estimation of the distribution of species potentialhabitat. Based on the values of the area under curve(AUC) statistics, accuracy of predictive models of all habitats was in good level. Investigating the agreement between the predicted map, generated by each model, and actual maps, generated from fieldmeasured data, of the plant habitats, was at a high level for all habitats, except for Amygdalus scoparia habitat. This study concluded that the RFM is a robust model to analyze the relationships between the distribution of plant species and environmental variables as well as to prepare potential distribution maps of plant habitats that are of higher priority for conservation on the local scale in arid mountainous rangelands.
文摘[Objective] To provide a theoretical basis for high-yield breeding of broom sorghum.[Method] Using 11 kinds of broom sorghum collected at home as research objects, the differences in morphological characteristics of broom sorghum were compared through the survey of some indicators, such as plant height, tillering, inflorescence, stem node, stem-leaf ratio, yield, and so on. [Result] The 11 kinds of broom sorghum were different in morphological characteristics with large amplitude of plant height; zygl-1, zygl-6, zygl-8 and zygl-9 were appropriate for fixed broom type; zygl-9 had the highest integrated production. [Condusion] The study laid the foundation for further exploring breeding, cultivation and promotion of broom sorghum.
文摘On the Kpinnou ranch in Benin, it was observed that the Girolando dairy cattle which graze Panieum maximum var. CI are more susceptible to infestation of ticks. The purpose of this study was to highlight the interactions between ticks and their bovine hosts and two types of artificial grazing pastures. Nineteen young Girolando dairy cattle were used during the big rainy season （March-June） 2009. All present ticks on the animals have been counted according to the body region. The bovine have been divided into two relatively homogeneous groups often and nine animals. The group I of 10 animals had been grazed on Panicum maximum whereas the group 2 of 9 animals had been grazed on Panicum maximum var. C 1. During the two months of grazing, a weekly monitoring of the evolution of the load in ticks has been achieved. Four genera of ticks were identified on the bovine Girolandos （Amblyomma, Hyalomma, Rhipicephalus and Boophilus）. The Boophilus genus is the most abundant （P 〈 0.05）. The animals having grazed Panicum maximum var. C I are more infested than those that have been grazed Panicum maximum. A variation of the rate of infestation of the animals has been observed in relation to the different body areas. The colour of the coat also has an effect on the load in tick of the bovine. The bovine of dark coat are in general more infested （P 〈 0.05） than those of clear colour.
文摘Napier grass （Pennisetum purpureum Schumach）, a C4 tropical plant, has high dry matter productivity and sustainability without the need for renovating every year due to good overwintering ability and the absence of serious pathogens or insects injury. This grass is suitable for multipurpose use, providing forage, bioethanol feedstock and phytoremediation of cadmium （Cd） contaminated soil in Kyushu, Japan. When two cultivars of Napier grass （Wruk wona, WK and Merkeron, ME） were grown in Cd-contaminated soils, dry matter yield and the concentration and uptake of herbage Cd were higher in WK than in ME, and soil Cd concentration was reduced by 14% in a single season of cultivation. A dwarf variety of late-heading type （DL）, Napier grass had superior sustainability for more than 5 years in Miyazaki, Japan, and has gradually increased in cultivation areas for both cut-and-carry and grazing herbage production in cooperation with regional communities. Through the extension in several Kyushu areas, DL Napier grass required temperatures above -6.2 ~C for sustainability in winter, based on its threshold response to the lethal minimum temperature. DL Napier grass pasture can be utilized by grazing beef cattle even in early spring with temperate Italian ryegrass inter-sown into its inter-row spaces. Organic digested animal manure or sun-dried leguminous leaves as green manure can replace chemical fertilizers to reduce energy consumption and allow comparable productivity.
文摘Based on the data of resources,environment and foundation of productio n,applying principal compo-nents-clustering quantitative analysis,this article divides the maritime space of Changshan Islands into three regions of agricultural-pasturalization,pr oviding a scientific basis for the ra tional distribution of marine culti vation.The three re-gions are as follows:1)The region of an agricultural-pastu ralization in the northern part of ma ritime space.It includes Da Wangjia and Shicheng islands.The ma in production is cultivation of praw n and molluscs in sea beach,float raft culture of mussel in shallow sea and scallop,and breeding of sea cucumber in subma rine.2)The region of agricultur-al-pasturalization in the middle we stern part of maritime space.It includes Da Changshan and Guanglu island s,and west-ern part of Xiao Chengshan Island.The main production is float raft cultu re of mussel and scallop in shallow se a,and breed-ing of sea cucumber in submarine.3)The region of agricultural-pastura lization of the southeastern part of maritime space.It includes the eastern part of Xiao ChangShan Island,Haiyang and Zhangzi islands.The main production is bre eding of abalone,sea cucumber,algaes and fish.
基金supported by the USAID under Agriculture Innovation Program (AIP) Pakistansupported by the ICARDA and the CGIAR Research Program on Livestock (CRP Livestock)
文摘Controlled grazing is considered a good management strategy to maintain or increase the live weight of livestock and to reduce vegetation degradation of rangelands. The present study investigated soil characteristics, aboveground vegetation biomass dynamics and controlled grazinginduced changes in the live weight of local ewes in the semi-arid rangeland of Ahmadun, Ziarat, Balochistanprovince of Pakistan. An area of 115 ha was protected from livestock grazing in April 2014. In June 2015, soil characteristics within 0-30 cm depth i.e. soil organic matter(SOM), mineral nitrogen, p H and texture in controlled and uncontrolled grazing sites were assessed. Aboveground vegetation biomass measured in early(June) and late summer(August) in 2015 and 2016. The nutritional value i.e. crude protein, phosphorus(P), neutral detergent fiber(NDF), acid detergent fiber(ADF), calcium(Ca), magnesium(Mg) and potassium(K) of dominantplant species were assessed at the beginning of experiment in 2015. Vegetation cover of controlled and uncontrolled grazing sites was also measured during the two years of the study period using the Veg Measure software. From June to November in2015 and 2016, controlled and uncontrolled livestock grazing sites were grazed on a daily basis by local ewes with a stocking rate of 2 and 1 head ha^(-1) respectively. Results reveal that the organic matter contents of coarse-textured, slightly alkaline soil of the study site were in the range of 9.4-17.6 g kg^(-1) soil and showed a strong positive correlation with aboveground vegetation biomass. The biomass of plants was 56.5% and 33% greater at controlled than uncontrolled grazing site in 2015 and 2016 respectively and plant cover was also higher at controlled than uncontrolled grazing site in both years The nutrient contents were significantly(P<0.05)lower in grasses than shrubs. In both years, the controlled grazing increased the weight gain of ewes about two folds compared to the uncontrolled grazing.The results indicate that controlled grazing improved the vegetation biomass production and small ruminant productivity.
文摘Rangelands occupy 51% of the terrestrial land surface, 23% total land of Nepal. It contains about 36% of the world＇s total carbon in above and belowground biomass. Rangelands can aid in the mitigation of rising atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations via carbon storage in biomass and soil organic matter. A study on carbon stock on soil and vegetation at various altitudinal gradients in Milke-Jaljale rangeland area of Eastern Nepal was made. The study was carried out at three altitudinal gradients （above sea levels） Milke （3,000 m）, Gorujure （3,500 m） and Jaljale （4,000 m）. This method required establishing a transect line. Sample points were located by pacing the appropriate distances from the point of origin at a transect line. To determine distribution and quantity of plant carbon and soil organic carbon （SOC）, 45 sample points were established and 15 points were sampled from each study site. Total soil carbon was estimated as follows： 17.65 t/ha at Milke, 17.27 t/ha at Gorujure and 28.33 t/ha at Jaljale. Similarly, total vegetation carbon was estimated 22.68 t/ha at Milke, 29.79 t/ha at Gorujure and 42.54 t/ha at Jaljale. Highest elevation study site with least external disturbance （Jaljale area） had high storage of carbon in both cases vegetation and soil.
文摘Developing countries must consider the influence of anthropogenic dynamics on changes in rangeland habitats. This study explores happened degradation in 178 rangeland management plans for Northeast Iran in three main steps:(1) conducting a trend analysis of rangeland degradation and anthropogenic dynamics in 1986–2000 and 2000–2015,(2) visualizing the effects of anthropogenic drivers on rangeland degradation using bivariate local spatial autocorrelation(BiLISA), and(3) quantifying spatial dependence between anthropogenic driving forces and rangeland degradation using spatial regression approaches. The results show that 0.77% and 0.56% of rangelands are degraded annually during the first and second periods. The BiLISA results indicate that dry-farming, irrigated farming and construction areas were significant drivers in both periods and grazing intensity was a significant driver in the second period. The spatial lag(SL) model(wi=0.3943, Ei=1.4139) with two drivers of dry-farming and irrigated farming in the first period and the spatial error(SE) model(wi=0.4853, Ei=1.515) with livestock density, dry-farming and irrigated farming in the second period showed robust performance in quantifying the driving forces of rangeland degradation. To conclude, the BiLISA maps and spatial models indicate a serious intensification of the anthropogenic impacts of ongoing conditions on the rangelands of northeast Iran in the future.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.41671080
文摘Changes in soil organic carbon(SOC) in rangelands has been extensively investigated. Grazing in outlying rangeland areas has caused severe impacts on ecosystem functions. To reveal the effects of grazing on SOC, we evaluated the grassland in Xilin Gol League, Inner Mongolia, China. Grazing intensity was determined by using two image sets of vegetation index with normalized differences in grazing periods(July 12 th and 28th). The range of variation in vegetation index was then used to measure the grazing intensity. The SOC storage and density were obtained by conducting experiments on field soil samples. Results showed that 1) the grazing intensity in Xilin Gol League declined gradually from west to east; by contrast, the spatial distribution of SOC density increased gradually. 2) As grazing intensity increased, the carbon storage of rangeland decreased evidently. Minimum carbon storage was observed in grasslands classified under extreme overgrazing; by comparison, maximum values were found in areas classified under light overgrazing to moderate grazing. 3) The estimated soil carbon storage was 8.48 × 10^(11) kg, and the average carbon density was 4.08 kg/m^2. Our research demonstrated that grazing intensity likely affects soil carbon. Moderate grazing is an optimum strategy to maintain carbon storage and ensure sustainable grassland utilization.
