Akbar FAKHIREH, Majid AJORLO, Alireza SHAHRYARI, Shahram MANSOURI, Soheila NOURI, Ahmad PAHLAVANRAVI

The autecological characteristics of Desmostachya bipinnata in hyper-arid regions

This study aimed to investigate the main autecological characteristics of Desmostachya bipinnata L. (Poaceae) in a hyper-arid region. The study was carried out on Sistan plain, south-eastern Iran. The habitats of D. bipinnata were identified and then the climatic and edaphic characteristics of habitats were determined. Phenological stages, reproduction, root system, and nutritive and preference values of D. bipinnata were also studied. One single habitat of D. bipinnata was identified on Sistan plain. Average annual rainfall and temperature of the habitat were 60 mm and 21.8 °C, respectively. Loamy and loamy sand soils of the habitat had EC and pH values of 10-60 DS/m and 8.03-8.31, respectively. Secondary roots of D. bipinnata penetrated up to 2 m depth in soil. Mean canopy cover was 21.3% in the habitat. Vegetative growth started in the middle of February followed by flowering in May and seed ripening in July. Crude protein content of leaves and stems was 7.56% and 6.71% during vegetative growth, respectively. For both sheep and goats, D. bipinnata had a similar preference value of 25%. This species, with high resistance to unfavourable conditions, can be used for rehabilitation of desertified rangeland in hyper-arid regions.

Anahtar Kelimeler:

Key words: Autecology, Desmostachya bipinnata, habitat, Iran, rangeland, Sistan

The autecological characteristics of Desmostachya bipinnata in hyper-arid regions

Keywords:

Key words: Autecology, Desmostachya bipinnata, habitat, Iran, rangeland, Sistan,

PDF

___

Abarseji GH, Shahmoradim I & Zarekia S (2007). Investigation of autecology of Hedysarum kopetdaghi in rangelands in Golestan Province. Iranian Journal of Range and Desert Research 14: 421- 431 (in Persian).
Abdel-Ghani M, Abo el-Kheir M, Abdel-Dayem M & Abd el-Hamid M (2011). Vegetation analysis and soil characteristics of five common desert climbing plants in Egypt. Turkish Journal of Botany 35: 561-580.
Ajeer F & Shahmoradi A (2007). Autecology of range plants species of Ferula ovina in Tehran Province. Iranian Journal of Range and Desert Research 14: 367-359 (in Persian).
Aronson JA (1989). HALOPH, a Data Base of Salt Tolerant Plants of the World. Tucson: University of Arizona Press.
Azarnivand H & Dsamalchi H (1998). Phenology of four plants species in Kashan desert region. Desert Journal 5: 15-25 (in Persian).
Bashari H & Shahmoradi A (2004). Autecology of three range plants species, Artemisia sieberi, Stipa hohenackeriana and Ferula gumosa in range ecosystems of Ghom Province. Iranian Journal of Range and Desert Research 11: 287-307 (in Persian).
Bor NL (1960). The Grasses of Burma, Ceylon, India and Pakistan. Oxford: Pergamon Press.
Danin A (2008). Desert rocks – a habitat which supports many species that were new to science in the last 40 years. Turkish Journal of Botany 32: 459-464.
Farahani A, Shahmoradi A, Zarekia S & Azhir F (2008). Autecology of Stipa barbata in Tehran Province. Iranian Journal of Range and Desert Research 15: 86-94 (in Persian).
Gulzar S, Khan MA & Liu X (2007). Seed germination strategies of Desmostachya bipinnata: a fodder crop for saline soils. Rangeland Ecology and Management 60: 401-407.
Hamed A, Zaheer M & Khan MA (2006). Comparative effects of NaCl and sea salt on seed germination of coastal halophytes. Pakistan Journal of Botany 38: 1605-1612.
Kaya Y & Aksakal O (2007). The morphological and autecological properties of Salvia rosifolia Sm. (Lamiaceae) grown in Erzurum and its Environs in Turkey. Pakistan Journal of Biological Science 10: 2178-2184.
Khan MA, Ahmed MZ & Hameed A (2006). Effect of sea salt and L-ascorbic acid on the seed germination of halophytes. Journal of Environment 67: 535-540.
Lugenja MMS, Mero RN & Kajuni AR (1988). Relationship between phytomass productivity, animal forage preference and environmental factors on semi-arid grazed and ungrazed key range plants in Tanzania. In: Proceedings of the Third Workshop on African Forage Plant Genetic Resources, Evaluation of Forage Germplasm and Extensive Livestock Production Systems. 27-30 April, Arusha, Tanzania.
Malik KA, Bilal R, Rasul G, Mahmood K & Sajjad MI (1991). Associative N2-fixation in plants growing in saline soils and its relative quantification based on 15N natural abundance. Journal of Plant and Soil 137: 67-74.
Mannetje L (Ed.) (1978). Measurement of Grassland Vegetation and Animal Production. Commonwealth Agricultural Bureau, Bulletin 52, Hurley, Berkshire, England.
Nautiyal BP, Nautiyal MC, Khanduri VP & Rawat N (2009). Floral biology of Aconitum heterophyllum Wall.: A critically endangered alpine medicinal plant of Himalaya, India. Turkish Journal of Botany 33: 13-20
Oanh BT (2002). Developments and issues relating to livestock production, protein supplies and the feed industries of Vietnam. In: Proceedings of FAO Animal Production and Health: Protein Sources for the Animal Feed Industry. 29 April-3 May, Bangkok, Thailand.
Pandeya A & Pandeya SC (2002). Environment and population differentiation in Desmostachya bipinnata (Linn.) in western India. Journal of Tropical Ecology 43: 359-362.
Saeedfar M, Khodagholi M, Fezi M & Shahmoradi A (2003). Investigation of autecological properties of Salsola orientalis in steppe rangeland in Esfahan Province. Iranian Journal of Range and Desert Research 13: 116-127 (in Persian).
SPSS Inc., 2007, SPSS 16.0 for Windows, Release 16.0.1. SPSS Inc. an IBM company, Chicago, Illinois.