In recent years, Iran has begun to move towards the development of the use of renewable energy sources in line with global developments. In this study, Side effects of two solar power plants on rangeland condition were studied. These solar power plants have been constructed using mosaic panels for installation obliquely on 16 ha in Absard rangeland (semi-steppe) and 23 ha in Shahrerey rangeland (steppe), Iran in 2016. In this study, sampling was performed in both rangelands for solar power plant and adjacent control. Sampling was done in 2019, based on the use of 100 m transects with one and two square-meter plots for semi-steppe and steppe, respectively, with a distance of 10 m on transects, systematically. Soil samples were taken from a depth of 0-30 cm from the beginning, middle and end of each transect as a composite sample. The obtained data were compared using independent T-test by SPSS software. Results showed that in comparing of soil factors between solar power plant and adjacent control site in both rangelands, there were no significant differences between treatments. However, vegetation cover and total biomass between solar power plant and control in Absard were significantly different (P<0.01). In Absard site, the vegetation cover (39% vs. 51%) and total biomass with values of (254 vs. 312 kg/h) were obtained in solar power plant and control, respectively, so the panel significantly reduced the performance of the vegetation cover and biomass in semi-steppe rangeland. In contrast, In Shahrerey , the vegetation factors between the solar power plant and the control were not significantly different from each other. So, from the point of view of natural resources and according to the results of the present study, for electricity generation, the establishment of solar power plant in the steppe rangelands is recommended as compared to semi-steppe rangeland. Manuscript profile

Astragalus squarrosus Bunge is one of the native and compatible range species in the dry lands of Iran. It is of great importance in terms of tolerance to specific ecological conditions as well as high nutritional value and soil conservation. In order to study the effects of seed priming on some morph-physiological traits, an experiment was conducted in form of split plots based on a completely randomized block design with five replications in Torud Research Farm in Semnan Province, Iran in 2017. Seed samples were collected from their natural habitats in Yazd, Kashan and Semnan in Iran. Seeds of three A. squarrosus ecotypes were treated by hydropriming (distilled water), hormonal priming (gibberellic acid: with concentrations of 125 and 250 ppm), (Salicylic acid: 100 and 200 mg/l), (Ascorbic acid: 100 and 200 mM) osmopriming (potassium nitrate: 0.3 and 0.2%) and control (without priming). The primed seeds and controls were sown in the field. No seeds were germinated for control and gibberellic acid (250 ppm). The results showed that the effect of priming was significant on leaf carbohydrate content, vegetation cover, dry matter (DM), yield and plant height (p<0.01). According to the results, the highest DM yield and plant height with average values of 82 (g/m2) and 34 cm, respectively, were related to the ecotype of Yazd treated with salicylic acid 100 mg/l. The highest vegetation cover with an average value of 34.6% was observed in Kashan ecotype by applying salicylic acid 100 mg/l. For carbohydrate content, the highest value of 36 (g/100gFW) was obtained in Semnan ecotype using 100 mg/l salicylic acid. The highest rate of proline with a value of 3.39 (Mm/gFW) was obtained in Semnan ecotype using 125 ppm gibberellic acid. It was concluded that application of hormonal seed priming of A. squarrosus could be useful for direct seeding of this species for rehabilitation of degraded arid rangelands of Iran. Manuscript profile

Capparis spinosa L. is a shrub plant that in addition to its forage use, has protective importance to prevent soil erosion in desert areas and importance values in treating many diseases as well. The aim of this study was to investigate the amount of phenol, flavonoids and antioxidant activity in different organs of C. spinosa in Sistan, Iranshahr and Saravan counties, Iran. Morphological traits (number of fruits, wet weight of fruit, dry weight of fruit, fruit diameter, number and length of branches, plant height, leaf length, leaf width and root depth) in each habitat were measured from four individuals of C. spinosa randomly. In order to perform phytochemical tests, different parts of the plant (stem, leaves, flowers, fruits, and roots) were randomly collected from the habitats in the post-flowering stage in June 2019. The total phenol and flavonoid content of all methanolic extracts were measured using the spectrophotometric method and antioxidant activity was determined using the free radical trap method. Data analysis was performed as factorial experiment based on completely randomized design in four replications. Rresults significant differences between different plant organs (P<0.01) in aspect of the antioxidant activity, the amount of total phenol and flavonoids. Also, there was a significant plant organs by habitats interaction (P<0.01). The results of the mean comparison showed the highest total phenol and total flavonoids were obtained from the methanolic extract of the flower 82.8 mg of quercetin equivalent per gram dry weight and 64.3 mg of gallic acid/g of dry weight in Sistan region, respectively, and the highest antioxidant activity was 15.7% in the fruit in Iranshahr region. According to the results, the obtained methanolic extract of C. spinosa flower and fruit in Sistan natural habitats is recommended to the treatment of diseases as a potential source of natural antioxidants. Manuscript profile

Optimal habitat has a beneficial effect on species survival. In this research a logistic regression statistical method was used to prepare the potential distribution map of Artemisia aucheri Boiss. in 2020-2021. The maps of 19 bioclimatic and three physiographic variables with a resolution of 4.9 km under the current conditions prepared. Then, sampling information related to the presence and absence of species and environmental variables recorded and the relationship between species distribution and environmental factors determined using logistic regression. Finally, the map of potential distribution of Tehran province produced. The results of logistic regression model showed that in the current situation, 427057 hectares (31% of the province) has a probability of more than 75% presence of this species. The kappa coefficient for evaluating the regression model was 0.86, which according to Koch and Smith classification is one of the models with good accuracy. In order to study the effect of climate change on the geographical distribution of the species, climate bio maps were prepared based on the MRI-ESM2-0 circulation model and under two scenarios of 4.5 and 8.5 for 2050. The species under study is currently in the range of 1600 to 2800 meters. The results show that by changing the conditions from a balanced to a pessimistic situation, the area with a presence of more than 75% of the species decreases and the area with a presence of 25-50% increases. Also, results show that the minimum and maximum altitudes in scenario 4.5 will change to 1500 and 2500 meters, respectively. While according to scenario 8.5, the presence of this species is only at above 2500 meters. According to the 8.5 scenario, the species will migrate to higher altitudes. The results identify climate sensitive areas and possible future shelters of Artemisia aucheri Boiss for use in conservation and rangeland planning. Manuscript profile

تغییرات مداوم را باید جز جدایی‌ناپذیر هر اکوسیستم دانست. مراتع نیز به‌عنوان اکوسیستم‌های طبیعی از این موضوع مستثنا نیستند. به‌طوری ‌که پایش مرتع به مفهوم بررسی مستمر این اراضی با توجه به اهمیت اکولوژیک، کارکردهای اقتصادی و تغییرات دائمی این منابع، امری ضروریست. بر این اساس پایش مراتع خلیل بیگ شهرستان ارسنجان به مدت 2 سال (1399 و 1400) انجام شد. شاخص‌های گیاهی مورد ارزیابی شامل درصد تاج پوشش گونه‌های گیاهی، میزان تولید گونه‌های گیاهی، درصد لاشبرگ، سنگ و سنگریزه، خاک عاری از پوشش، وضعیت و گرایش مرتع بودند. نتایج نشان داد میزان درصد تاج پوشش گیاهی از 98/10 درصد در سال 1400 تا 5/15 درصد در سال 1399 و میزان تولید از 208/350 تا 306/566 کیلوگرم ماده خشک در هکتار متغیر بود. وضعیت مرتع در حالت ضعیف در دو سال مورد بررسی قرار داشته و گرایش آن منفی بود. براساس نتایج مقایسات انجام شده با استفاده از آزمون t مستقل، اکثر شاخص‌های تاج پوشش گیاهان (فرم‌های رویشی و کلاس‌های خوشخوراکی مختلف) و شاخص‌های تولید (فرم‌های رویشی و کلاس‌های خوشخوراکی مختلف) بین دو سال دوره بررسی (سال 1399 نماینده یک سال مرطوب و سال 1400 نماینده یک سال خشک) تفاوت معنی‌داری در سطح 1 و 5 درصد داشتند. نتایج آزمون همبستگی پیرسون نیز نشان داد که میزان بارش پاییز و زمستان، میزان بارش سالانه ، متوسط دمای کمینه و متوسط دمای سالانه بیشترین همبستگی را در میزان تاج پوشش و تولید کل گیاهان منطقه بر عهده داشته‌اند. Manuscript profile