Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
SCIENTIFIC PAPERS-SERIES A-AGRONOMY, cilt.59, ss.426-430, 2016 (ESCI)
In this study, three different rangeland sites were examined according to their attitude and usage degree in Kumbet village of Erzurum province during the year of 2004. Vegetation properties such as botanic composition, canopy coverage ratio, rangeland quality degree and health, carrying capacity, and similarity index were determined. Total 81 plants species were found in the experimental rangeland sites and sheep fescue (Festucaovina) was the dominant plant species at all sites. In botanic composition, the ratio of grasses, legumes and the other plant families were determined as 42.33%, 19.19% and 38.59% in average, respectively. Agropyron intermedium, Koeleria cristata and Bromus tomentollus from grasses; Astragallus microcephalus and Astragallus lagunus from legumes and Thymus parviflorus from the other families were the common plant species. Plant canopy coverage ratio was determined as 32.11%, 36.06%, and 58.24% at the I, II, and III rangeland sites, respectively. Rangeland site which has 35.47% quality score was evaluated as "Fair - at Risk Condition and health" class. In our study, rangeland site I was evaluated as "Poor - at Risk" condition and health class with 24.99% quality score, rangeland site II was evaluated as "Fair - at risk" condition and health class, and rangeland site III was evaluated as "fair - Healthy" condition and health class. In grazing season, rangeland carrying capacity was determined as 0.5 in I. site, 1.0 in II. site and 1.1 in III. site for Animal Unit.(AU) According to these results, 10 ha in site I, 5 ha in site II, and 3.18 ha in site III area were necessary for one AU during grazing season. Similarity index of rangeland plant canopy differed between 43 and 64. Current grazing management practices leads to overgrazing pressure especially around the permanent settlement; therefore, developing a suitable grazing management plan are necessary to provide sustainable use of the rangelands.