Modeling of Biomass by Soil Parameters in Hir-Neur Rangelands, Ardabil Province

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to model biomass with soil parameters in Hir-Neur rangelands of Ardabil Province. Initially, considering the vegetation types and different classes of environmental factors, at the maximum vegetative growth stage, using one square meter plot, biomass was estimated by clipping and weighing method. For each transect, a soil sample was taken and transferred to the soil laboratory and the various parameters were measured by conventional methods. The relationship between soil factors and the rangeland biomass was analyzed and simulated using linear multiple regression. Among the measured soil factors, the Silt, EC, Ca, Ksoluble, OC, POC, pH, Mg, TNV, clay, P, and volumetric moisture had the highest effect and percentage of biomass forecast (p<0.01). The accuracy of the simulated maps was analyzed using RMSE criteria and for grasses, forbs, shrubs, and total biomass were equal to 0.81, 0.65, 0.34, and 0.46, respectively. The results of this study, not only point out the importance of soil factors on the biomass but also as a baseline data for managing rangelands, supply-demand, and carbon balance can be used in the current section.

Keywords

• biomass
• vegetative form
• simulating
• linear regression
• prediction equation