Vegetation Structure of Natural Rangelands at Two Different Altitudes in Terrestrial Climate Zone

Abstract

This study was conducted in 2018 to determine the vegetation structure of different altitudes of a natural rangeland in Turkey's Southeastern Anatolia Region. The plant cover and vegetation structure of the rangeland in two different elevations (863 and 1083 m, respectively) were investigated by using modified wheel loop method. In the study area, features such as plant covered area, botanical composition, number of species, rangeland status and health were determined. According to the results of the research; the average plant-covered area was 63% at the first altitude (863 m) and 59% at the second altitude (1083 m). In the first altitude, the ratio of grasses, legumes, and other families in the area covered with plants was determined as 19.5%, 17.25% and 26.25%, respectively; while in the second altitude, this rate was 15.0%, 14.75% and 29.25%, respectively. In the area covered with plants, the average rate of grasses in botanical composition was 28.06%, the rate of legumes was 26.08% and the rate of other families was 45.86%. According to the evaluations on the botanical composition of the rangeland, the status was evaluated as “poor rangeland” and health was evaluated as "risky rangeland”. For this reason, it is concluded that the rangeland areas and other similar areas in the region should be complied with the principles of rangeland management and breeding studies.

Keywords

• rangeland
• plant cover percentage
• poaceae
• fabaceae
• botanical composition