Showing 4 results for Pasture
R. Hajeeboland, N. Asgharzadeh, Z. Mehrfar,
Volume 8, Issue 2 (7-2004)
Abstract
A great number of studies have been conducted on the role of Azotobacter - a free living N2-fixer - in agricultural soils, but our information is lacking on the importance of Azotobacter in pasture soils. This research was conducted to study the relationship between ecological and edaphical factors with the population of the bacteria in soil. Soil samples were taken from two sites in Azarbaidjan (Mishou-dagh and Khadjeh), having different ecology, soils and vegetation types. We investigated also the effect of inoculation of rhizosphere with soil-isolated A. chroococcum on the growth of wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Omid) during 56 days of growth in a pot experiment. The treatments included: 1) inoculation with A. chroococcum (+A), 2) N fertilizer at a rate of 35 mg/Kg as (NH4)2SO4 (+N), 3) +A+N and 4) –A–N as control with four replications. Results showed that the population of Azotobacter chroococcum correlated positively with organic carbon and negatively with soil pH. In soils covered with vegetation the population of bacteria was higher than that in uncovered soils and the highest population of bacteria was found in soil samples collected from the rhizosphere of grass species and the lowest in that of legume species. In inoculation experiment, shoot and, particularly root growth, increased in the order of +N, +A and +A+N in comparison with control (–A–N) plants. These treatments also stimulate uptake and transport of K into shoot. Interestingly, the effect of +A treatment was significantly higher than that of +N and +A+N treatments. The same results were obtained for nitrogen. A higher uptake and particularly transport of K into shoot was attributed to low molecular weight organic molecules produced in inoculated roots and transport K into shoot. Results showed that inoculation with Azotobacter not only enhanced growth and chlorophyll content, but also stimulated uptake and translocation of ions into shoot. The stimulatory impact of inoculation is most likely a general effect that could also be important in micronutrients translocation into shoot.
M. Yousefifard, A. Jalalian, H. Khademi,
Volume 11, Issue 40 (7-2007)
Abstract
Improper use of natural resources, especially soil, causes its degradation and severe soil erosion. Water erosion is an important factor causing soil degradation. Land use change of pasture would result in severe soil erosion mainly due to the reduction of vegetation cover and also surface soil disturbance. The objectives of this study were to estimate the amount of sediment, runoff and nutrient loss in four different land uses including a pasture with good vegetation cover (> 20%), a pasture with poor vegetation cover (< 10%), a currently being used dryland farm and a degraded dryland farm which is not used. Soil samples were taken from the depth of 0–10 cm in a completely randomized design with four replications. A rainfall simulator was run for two hours to estimate the amount of sediment, runoff and nutrient loss. Organic matter, total N, available P and distribution of particles size in soil and sediment were measured. The results showed that a very high degradation has occurred in the area mostly due to water erosion created as a result of overgrazing in pasture, susceptibility of geological formations and more importantly, the change of land use pasture to inefficient dryland farming. Maximum and minimum runoff was observed in the abandoned dry landfarm and pasture with good vegetation cover, respectively. Maximum sediment content was observed in dryland farm. Sediment content in dryland farm, abandoned dry landfarm and pasture with poor vegetation cover were 54.5, 21 and 10.4 times more than that in the pasture with good vegetation cover, respectively. Enrichment ratio (ER) of soil particles in sediment was highest for fine silt (2-5µm), followed by clay. A minimum of ER was obtained for sand fraction. Percentages of organic matter, total N and available P in sediment were higher in the first hour as compared to the second one. This is mainly due to the fact that fine particles are removed at the beginnings of the rainfall event. Total removal of these chemical factors was highest in dryland, intermediate in pasture with poor vegetation cover and abandoned dryland and lowest in pasture with good vegetation cover. In general, cultivation and disturbance of the pasture in the area land have caused a great decrease in soil quality and made the surface very sensitive to erosion.
B. Najafi, A. Shirvanian, T. Haghshenas,
Volume 12, Issue 45 (10-2008)
Abstract
In the process of agricultural development, sustainability of pasture utilization to ensure sustained production of meat and dairy products has become increasingly important. This article aims to study factors affecting pasture and meat production imbalances in Fars province. For this purpose, the transcendental production function was used. Data was collected by using two stage cluster random sampling from 71 producers. The results revealed that present method of pasture utilization is not compatible with increasing live animal meat production objective. To optimize pasture utilization, the pasture users should be advised to stop overgrazing. In addition, the results indicated that increasing livestock and pasture mismanagement causes damage to pastures and consequently would decrease meat production in the long-run.
N. Ghorbani Ghahfarokhi, Z. Kiani Salmi, F. Raiesi, Sh. Ghorbani Dashtaki,
Volume 17, Issue 63 (6-2013)
Abstract
Free and uncontrolled pasture grazing by animals may decrease soil aggregate stability through reductions in plant cover and subsequent soil organic C, and trampling. This could expose the soil surface layer to degradation and erosion. The objective of this study was to determine the influence of pasture management (free grazing, controlled grazing and long-term non-grazing regimes) on aggregate-size distribution and aggregation parameters by wet and dry sieving methods in two native pastures, protected areas in Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari province. The studied pastures were 1) SabzKouh pastures protected from grazing for 20 years, and 2) Boroujen pastures protected from grazing for 25 years. Soil samples were collected from 0-15 cm depth during the grazing season in summer 2008. Samples (finer than 2 mm) were analyzed for aggregate-size distribution and aggregation parameters by wet and dry sieving methods. Results showed that pasture management had a significant influence on aggregate-size distribution and aggregation parameters in the two areas. The two methods indicated that macro-aggregates in non-grazing and controlled grazing regimes were higher than those in free grazing regime, whereas in free grazing management micro-aggregates showed an opposite trend, and were greater compared with the other grazing regimes. Similarly, soil aggregate stability indices (i.e. mean weight diameter, aggregate geometric and ratio mean diameter) were all improved by non-grazing regimes, suggesting that animal grazing and trampling break down large soil aggregates due largely to compaction and reduced plant coverage. However, the extent to which grazing affects soil aggregation depends in large part on grazing intensity and duration, and the area involved.
