Evaluation of structural and functional characteristics of ecological spots using the LFA

Subject Areas : RANGLAND MANAGMENT

Maasoumeh  Movaghari ¹ (1- Faculty of department of nature reclamation engineering of Khuzestan Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University, Khuzestan, Iran.)
Leila  Khalasi ² (Ph.D. in range management, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources)

Received: 2019-02-18 Accepted : 2018-09-01 Published : 2018-12-21

Keywords: Khuzestan, monitoring range ecosystems, Soil stability, Soil permeability, nutritional cycle of soil elements,

Abstract :

Khuzestan province is one of the provinces that have been struggling with the phenomenon of dust in recent years and has suffered many economic, social and environmental consequences. This research was conducted to identify the ecological components in the sand dunes of Zoeir in Khouzestan province with the aim of evaluating soil level indices by LFA method. This region is located at 48.1 km distance from Ahvaz city. Sampling unit in this research was linear transect. Ecological spots and the spaces between them were determined during each transect and then five repetitions were selected randomly between them. Then, eleven soil indices that determine three functional characteristics (stability, permeability and nutrient cycle of the elements) were scored according to Tongway and Hindly) 2003(. Then, three functional features were determined based on the scores of related indices, Using LFA software. SPSS software was used for statistical analysis and comparison of ecological spots. The result showed that the highest percentage of soil stability is related to tree spots and the smallest percentage refers to the spatial space (bare soil). Also, the highest percent of the nutrient cycle was related to tree and tree trunk spots and the spatial space (bare soil) with the forbs spot had the lowest food cycle. Also, contrary to the research hypotheses, the highest percentage of permeability belonged to the bare soil.

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