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Investigating the Effect of the Integrated System of Semi-Circular Bunds with Seed Sowing on Vegetation and Species Diversity in Dry Rangelands (Case Study: Esfakany Rangelands, Boshrouyeh, South Khorasan)
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Sayyed Hossein Solaimani   , Moslem Rostampour * , Reza Yari |
| Department of Rangeland and Watershed Management and Research Group of Drought and Climate Change, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Birjand, Birjand, Iran |
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Abstract: (11 Views) |
| The construction of small mechanical structures, particularly semi-circular bunds designed to collect rainwater and enhance soil moisture infiltration, plays an effective role in restoring vegetation cover in arid and semi-arid regions. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of the integrated system of semi-circular bunds with seed sowing inside them on soil surface cover characteristics and biodiversity in the rangelands of Esfakany, Boshrouyeh, South Khorasan Province. Vegetation sampling was conducted in the spring of 2024, during the flowering stage of dominant plants, using a systematic-random method with quadrats. Vegetation characteristics including density, composition, percentage of soil surface cover, number of species, species richness indices (Margalef, Chao1, and Menhinick), species diversity indices (Simpson and Shannon-Wiener), species evenness (Pielou), and Simpson's dominance were measured and compared across three areas (inside the semi-circular bunds, outside the semi-circular bunds, and control). The results showed that the effect of semi-circular bunds combined with seed sowing on cryptogam cover, litter, stone and gravel cover, and vegetation cover was significant (p ≤ 0.05), but its effect on bare soil percentage was not significant (p ≥ 0.05). Furthermore, the semi-circular bunds significantly affected the number of species, number of individuals, Simpson's dominance, Margalef richness, Chao1 richness, and Shannon and Simpson diversity indices, while their effects on Menhinick richness and species evenness were not significant (p ≥ 0.05). The results of the omega-squared effect size indicated that the semi-circular bunds had the greatest effect on the species number of individuals (0.96) and the least effect on Menhinick richness (0.31). The chi-square goodness-of-fit test showed that in both inside and outside the semi-circular bunds, the log-normal model fitted the species abundance distribution data well, indicating that the species frequency distribution follows a log-normal pattern and reflects stable and diverse communities in these areas. Overall, the effect of semi-circular bunds on the ecological characteristics of vegetation in the rangelands where this practice was implemented was assessed as positive; therefore, this method can be used as an effective strategy for the restoration of degraded rangelands. |
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Article number: 3 |
| Keywords: degraded rangelands, semi-circular bunds, soil surface cover, species diversity |
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Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2026/06/10 | Revised: 2026/07/11 | Accepted: 2026/07/11 | ePublished ahead of print: 2026/07/31 | ePublished: 2026/07/31
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