Changes in some vegetation properties of the rangelands of the Palandoken Mountains, Erzurum, over two decades


KOÇ A., GÜLLAP M. K., Surmen M., ERKOVAN H. İ.

TURKISH JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY, vol.44, no.6, pp.589-598, 2020 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 44 Issue: 6
  • Publication Date: 2020
  • Doi Number: 10.3906/tar-1909-37
  • Journal Name: TURKISH JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, BIOSIS, CAB Abstracts, Compendex, Environment Index, Geobase, INSPEC, Veterinary Science Database, TR DİZİN (ULAKBİM)
  • Page Numbers: pp.589-598
  • Keywords: Botanical composition, grasses, legumes, long-term changes, rangeland, GRAZING INTENSITY, SLOPE ASPECT, SOIL, GRASSLAND, PASTURE, BASIN
  • Eskisehir Osmangazi University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Plant community responses to environmental changes depend upon management strategies, climate, topography, and time. The objective herein was to determine canopy coverage and botanical changes in Turkish highland rangelands with different topographical characteristics between 1993 and 2013. Trends in the plant composition changed depending on the slope aspect (compass direction) and topography. The contribution of the grasses to the canopy decreased, while that of legumes and the other families increased. The results indicated that rangeland degradation occurred under uncontrolled grazing conditions. Suitable range management changes are recommended for the conservation of natural resources in the highland rangelands of Turkey.