Determining rangeland suitability model for sheep grazing using GIS (case study: Baqeran watershed)

Subject Areas : forest

Einollah Rouhi Moghaddam ¹ , حلیمه جلورو ² , هادی معماریان ³

1 - Assistant Prof. University of Zabol
2 - University of Zabol
3 - Assistant prof. University of Birjand

Received: 2015-12-19 Accepted : 2016-10-04 Published : 2016-02-20

Keywords: GIS, EPM, Rangeland suitability, Baqeran mountain,

Abstract :

Abstract Rangeland ecosystems are considered as one of the most complex ecosystems and there is the close relationships between its components. This implies that rangeland resources in every area be evaluated properly for each kind of utilizations and also land suitability is specified for each land use. The aim of this study was determining ranges suitability for sheep grazing in Baqeran watershed, South Khorasan, that has been performed using FAO method in GIS. In this study three factors including forage production, water resources and sensitivity to erosion were considered among physical and vegetation factors which have been provided as three sub-models. The final model of range suitability show that high slope and distance from water resources are the most important factors to decrease land suitability for this land use. It was also observed the 32.63 % of rangelands were grouped at S2 class (medium), 21.13 % were grouped at S3 class (low- suitability) and 18.06 % at N class (non – suitable).