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

Subject Areas : forest

halime  joloroo ¹ (دانش آموخته کارشناسی ارشد مرتعداری دانشگاه زابل)
عین اله  rouhi moghaddam ² (استادیار دانشکده آب و خاکدانشگاه زابل)
Hadi  memarian ³ (استادیار دانشکده منابع طبیعی دانشگاه بیرجند)

Received: 2015-01-18 Accepted : 2015-07-05 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 are 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 the 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 shows 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 in the S2 class (medium), 21.13 % were grouped at S3 class (low- suitability) and 18.06 % of N class (non – suitable).    

References:

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