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The Impacts of Atriplex Plantation from the Viewpoint of Stockholders

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The Impacts of Atriplex Plantation from the Viewpoint of Stockholders H. Niknahad-Gharmakher & A. Sharifiyan-Bahraman / Environmental Resources Research 5, 1 (2017) 89 Environmental Resources Research Vol. 5, No. 1, 2017 GUASNR The impacts of Atriplex plantation from the viewpoint of stockholders H. Niknahad-Gharmakher*1, A. Sharifiyan-Bahraman2 1Assistant Professor, Department of Rangeland Management, College of Rangeland and Watershed Managemet, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran 2Ph.D. Student, Department of Rangeland Management, College of Rangeland and Watershed Managemet, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran Received: March 2016 ; Accepted: February 2017 Abstract1 Atriplex spp. (Atriplex canescens, A. lentiformis and A. halimus) plantation has been extensively used in order to reclaim rangeland in Iran in the past decades. However, the impacts of this technique has been a controversial issue and due to its increasing adoption, it is important to investigate its impacts in reclamation of degraded rangelands. The aim of this study was to investigate the viewpoints of stockholders in two winter rangelands in Golestan Province. First, the investigation factors were determined and then, using content analysis method, a questionnaire containing quintuple Likert, nominal and ordinal scale items as well as some open items was prepared and completed by stockholders. The number of samples was determined by Cochran formula. Data were analyzed through SPSS using descriptive statistics and Mann-Whitney test. The results revealed that the rangelands, livestock and forage production of Atriplex spp. play important roles in the life and livelihood of stockholders of both studied areas. Considering all investigated items, in majority of cases the desirable effects of Atriplex spp. plantation was dominant in the viewpoints of Ghareh-Doung stockholders. The results indicated that despite some differences, the stockholders are satisfied with Atriplex spp. plantation in the two studied areas. More investigation on the effects of Atriplex spp. on the dairy and meat production was proposed. Keywords: Rangeland reclamation, Atriplex spp., Stockholders, Golestan Province. * Corresponding author; [email protected] 90 H. Niknahad-Gharmakher & A. Sharifiyan-Bahraman / Environmental Resources Research 5, 1 (2017) Introduction (Papanastasis et al., 2008) and alkalinity Rangelands are the main vegetation (Jafari, 1994) which are characteristics of cover of Iran due to low and scattered semi-arid regions. Tolerance of these precipitation, which is characteristic of the halophyte shrubs to harsh conditions of Mediterranean climate (Eskandari et al., the semi-arid areas makes them the best 2008). Rangelands are the main source of plant for improving rangelands of these meat and dairy products and a considerable regions. number of populations of Iran depends Overgrazing has degraded rangelands on them economically (Kamalzadeh and of Iran specifically in the semi-arid Kiasat, 2008). regions. In this regard, different species It is important to apply a range of Atriplex spp (Atriplex canescens, management technique for the highest A. lentiformis and A. halimus) have been utilization with the lowest damage in planted widely in order to improve order to save these valuable resources for rangelands condition over the past decades future generations. However, overgrazing (Hente et al., 2008). of rangelands has decreased their Although this improvement technique is production dramatically. Hence, there is a suitable from some aspects, its effect on need to improve rangeland production. rangeland condition and livestock production This has been implemented using seed needs to be evaluated. Since these plants sowing and seedling plantation of range are non-native, it is important to investigate species successfully which made the their plantation on rangelands as a new balance between the number of livestock introduced species. Several studies have and forage production in some regions. been conducted to reveal the effects of Selection of suitable plants regarding the Atriplex spp. plantation on soil properties ecological condition of a specific region and plant characteristics in Iran (Chalak is the most critical decision in this Haghighi, 2000; Khalkhali, 1996; Hente, management process. For example, shrub 2003), but only one study has focused on species are appropriate plants for areas stockholders and their opinion regarding with limited precipitation due to their this plantation (Hente et al., 2008). So, this biological capabilities. These plants have study aimed to investigate the impacts of an important role in preventing rangeland rangeland improvement practices through degradation. In addition, they produce Atriplex spp. plantation technique in enough forage especially during dry Golestan Province, Iran. season when forage production of grass and forbs is low (Pengelly et al., 2003, Materials and Methods FAO, 1995). This research was performed in winter Halophyte shrub species, which are of of 2014. The study areas were Maraveh – the genus Atriplex spp., have been used Tappeh and Ghareh-Doung in the east of for rangeland rehabilitation and animal the Golestan Province, Iran (Figure 1). feeding in central Asian countries (Hyder and Akil, 1987). These plants grow in areas with 200 to 400 mm annual rainfall (le Houerou, 1992). Halophytic plants have high tolerance to soil salinity H. Niknahad-Gharmakher & A. Sharifiyan-Bahraman / Environmental Resources Research 5, 1 (2017) 91 Figure 1. Location map showing the case study rangelands in northern Golestan Province, Iran. This region has two distinct seasons. studied items and showed a favorable Rainy season starts from mid-November to rate (>0.7) by removing some questions May and the dry season from mid-May to with poor coefficient. Finally, the refined October (Table 1). questionnaires were completed by stockholders. We obtained information from individual The number of samples (58 samples) was interviews and classified it using content determined by Cochran (1977) formula: analysis method and then a questionnaire containing quintuple Likert, nominal scale N(t.s)2 Equation (1) n and ordinal scale items as well as some Nd 2 (t.s)2 open items was prepared. The validity of the questionnaire items was approved where n is sample size, s is standard by experts and to find the reliability of deviation, N is population size, d and t is the questionnaire, a number of them were the desired level of precision and t is completed by stockholders. Cronbach's t-value at 0.95 probability level. alpha coefficient was obtained for all Table 1. Environmental characteristics of rangeland exclosures in the study area. Mean annual Mean annual Altitude Study area Latitude Longitude rainfall Temperature Climate (m) (mm) (°C) Ghareh-Doung 37° 39´ N 54° 57´ E 250 17.6 Semi-desert 82 Maraveh-Tappeh 37° 46´ N 55° 52´ E 482 16.7 Cold-Semiarid 620 92 H. Niknahad-Gharmakher & A. Sharifiyan-Bahraman / Environmental Resources Research 5, 1 (2017) The data were analyzed through that their income are highly dependent on SPSSver21 using descriptive statistics livestock. (frequency and relative frequency) and This research studied what portion of Mann-Whitney test. daily livestock’s forage obtained from rangeland. As found, this is 93% in Results Maraveh-Tappeh and 70% in Ghareh– The viewpoint of two groups about role of Doung (Figure 3). Then we investigated rangeland, livestock and Atriplex spp. what portion of livestock’s forage need was production on livelihood of stockholders acquired from Atriplex spp. specifically. The Firstly, the importance of livestock in stated level of dependency of livestock’s the livelihood and income of stockholders daily need to Atriplex’s forage was 82% and was investigated (Figure 2). According to 70% for Ghareh–Doung and Maraveh- the results, 63% of Ghareh-Doung and 67% Tappeh, respectively (Figure 4). Results of of Maraveh-Tapperh stockholders believed this study shows Atriplex spp. plantation. Figure 2. The role of pastoralism in the livelihood and income of exploiters. Figure 3. The role of rangeland in supplying of livestock’s’ daily requirement for exploiters. H. Niknahad-Gharmakher & A. Sharifiyan-Bahraman / Environmental Resources Research 5, 1 (2017) 93 Figure 4. The role of Atriplex’s forage in supplying of livestocks’ daily requirement. Figure 5. Atriplex plantation’s impact on increasing of rangeland’s vegetation cover. Figure 6. Atriplex plantation’s impact on increasing of grazing period. 94 H. Niknahad-Gharmakher & A. Sharifiyan-Bahraman / Environmental Resources Research 5, 1 (2017) Has more effect on the increasing of items in terms of averages. From the vegetation cover than increasing of period viewpoint of Ghareh-Doung stockholders, of exploitation (Figures 5 and 6). Atriplex had 100% satisfactory growth, The results (Figures 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6) while this item for Maraveh-Tapperh demonstrated that except the item "the stockholders was 70%. In fact, for all of the effect of Atriplex spp. plantation on studied items, except items 5, 7, 8 and 10, increasing the rangeland vegetation cover", there were significant differences between there is no significant difference (P<0.05) the two groups (P>0.05). Investigation of in all investigated items between viewpoint question 11 "Atriplex spp. plantation is of stockholders of the two studied areas. known in the region to be useful" demonstrated that usefulness of Atriplex The viewpoints of the two groups about spp. plantation
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