Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Associate Prof., Forests and Rangelands Research Department, Khuzestan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization (AREEO),
2 Assistant Prof., Forests and Rangelands Research Department, Khuzestan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization (AREEO)
3 Assistant Prof., Forests and Rangelands Research Department, Khuzestan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Ahvaz, Iran
4 Expert, Khuzestan Natural Resources and Watershed Management Department.
5 Assistant Prof., Soil Conservation and Watershed Management Research Department, Khuzestan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Ahvaz, Iran
Abstract
Iran is located in the arid and semi-arid belt of the world and is very far from moisture sources. Arid and desert areas, due to a lack of moisture, high temperatures, strong winds, soil erosion, and land degradation caused by human activity, have created tough conditions for plant growth and development, such that only a relatively limited number of plant species can survive. Native plants of such areas are considered highly valuable species due to their ability to adapt to harsh environmental conditions and play a crucial role in the region's climate, soil formation, and hydrology; therefore, their identification is of great importance. With the aim of monitoring and recording spatial data statistics of meteorological, hydrometric, erosion and sedimentation, vegetation cover, soil and groundwater climatic parameters, the Shush representative basin station was established in 2007 by the General Directorate of Natural Resources and Watershed Management of Khuzestan Province. In this area, in addition to the Moorlands, shallow depressions and old gullies are observed in this basin, some of which have been stabilized due to enclosure and reduction of livestock pressure. These stabilized depressions themselves act as natural micro-reservoirs and have provided suitable conditions for the establishment of permanent species by increasing infiltration, reducing surface runoff, and trapping plant seeds. In this study, the floristic composition, richness, and species diversity were compared in plots located in stabilized micro-watersheds (treatment) and hills (control).
Materials and methods:
In this study, vegetation cover analysis was conducted in the Shoosh representative basin area using biodiversity indices. During the appropriate growing season (early February to late March), during field visits, a list of plant species in the area was taken, and typification was performed based on the presence of shrub and perennial species.
Keywords
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