Short-term effect of oil-mulch on vegetation dynamic; Integration of ecological and remote sensing-based approaches

Wind erosion is one of the desertification results and is among the natural processes that mostly occur under dry conditions and high wind velocity. Using oil-mulches is one of the common methods to stabilize sand dunes. The current study aimed to investigate the short-term effects of oil-mulch on vegetation attributes (i.e., cover and diversity) and rangeland condition score (RCS) using integrated ecological and remote sensing-based approaches in arid regions of Southwestern Iran. A vegetation survey was carried out in 2019 in the oil-mulched and control area, and a remotely sensed vegetation index (MSAVI) was calculated for 2017 and 2019. The results indicate that one year after treatment, compared to the control area, vegetation cover (30 ± 17.11 vs. 17 ± 5.44 %) and litter (4.6 ± 2.18 vs. 0.94 ± 1.55 %) increased significantly in the oil-mulched area, while bare soil (65.20 ± 17.34 vs. 82.31 ± 5.84 %) decreased. Further, diversity indices (Species evenness, Shannon, and Simpson indices) declined by applying oil-mulch (88%, 63%, and 71%, respectively). The rangeland condition score was significantly higher in the oil-mulched area than in the control area (22 ± 1.86 vs. 12 ± 0.88; P < 0.001). Comparing MSAVI between 2017 and 2019 showed that vegetation cover increased 44.8%. Based on the results, it can be suggested that planting native palatable species in an oil-mulched area with the exclusion of livestock grazing is likely to increase the benefits of oil-mulch treatment and will lead to better rangeland condition score.

Assessment of rangeland condition

There is a substantial gap in the studies on classifications of rangeland condition in the Mongolian context. To fill this gap, this study aimed at assessing the condition and changes of rangeland in the forest-steppe zone in Mongolia with the use of remote sensing technique. The Bornuur soum of Tuv aimag in Mongolia was selected as the study area. A quantitative methodology with remote sensing tool was employed to assess rangeland condition. The results of the study showed an overall accuracy of 73.9%. The study provided an insight into possible improving methodology of rangeland monitoring, sustainable land management as well as environmental studies. Бэлчээрийн төлөв байдлыг үнэлэх зарим арга Монгол орны хувьд зайнаас тандан судлалын арга технологийг ашиглан газрын бүрхэвч болон газар ашиглалтын ангилал, өөрчлөлтийг үнэлэх судалгаа түгээмэл байгаа ч тус аргыг ашиглан бэлчээрийн төлөв байдлыг үнэлсэн судалгаа ховорхон хийгдсэн байна. Иймээс ойт хээрийн бүс болох Төв аймгийн Борнуур сумын жишээгээр зайнаас тандах аргаар бэлчээрийн төлөв байдлыг n=700 цэгийн хээрийн судалгааг ашиглан үнэлсэн. Судалгааны үр дүнг хээрийн хэмжилтийн мэдээгээр үнэлэхэд таарцын үнэлгээ нь 73.9% гарсан нь цаашид бэлчээрийн төлөв байдлын судалгаанд ашиглах боломжтойг харуулж байна. Цаашид тус ангиллын аргыг улам сайжруулан бэлчээрийн төлөв байдлын үнэлгээ, мониторинг, тогтвортой газрын менежмент болон байгаль орчны судалгаанд хэрэглэж болно. Түлхүүр үг: ургамлын индекс, ландсат хиймэл дагуулын мэдээ