Wildlife and Livestock Grazing Effects on Some Physical and Chemical Soil Properties (Case Study: Kalmand-Bahadoran Arid Rangelands of Yazd Province)

Abstract

Owing to the importance and necessity of identifying soil properties in arid rangeland management, and the variable<br />effects of different kinds of herbivores on soil, this study compares some of the physical and chemical properties of<br />soil between two regions experiencing livestock and wildlife grazing in the desert rangelands of Kalmand-Bahadoran<br />in Yazd province. The key areas in two regions experiencing livestock and wildlife grazing were selected, and soil<br />samples were taken at depths of 0-30 cm using the systematic random sampling method. All samples were then<br />transferred to the laboratory to determine the desired parameters. Finally, soil characteristics were compared between<br />the two regions. The results indicate that physical properties of the soil such as clay and moisture percentage show no<br />significant differences. Bulk density in the region of livestock grazing reveals a highly significant increase compared<br />to the area under wildlife grazing (P<0.01). Calcium carbonate, acidity and electrical conductivity parameters also<br />saw a significant increase from 18.33%, 8.47% and 1.46% in the region with livestock grazing to 14.91%, 8.36% and<br />1.35% on the wildlife grazing site respectively (P<0.01). In terms of organic matters there was no significant<br />difference between the two study sites. Overall, changes in soil properties have occurred as a result of wildlife<br />grazing from halophyte and shrub species and from less grazing pressure at the site.<br /><br />