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Short-term effect of oil-mulch on vegetation dynamic; Integration of ecological and remote sensing-based approaches
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  • Noredin Rostami,
  • Haji Karimi,
  • Mohsen Tavakoli,
  • Reza Omidipour
Noredin Rostami
Ilam University

Corresponding Author:n.rostami@ilam.ac.ir

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Haji Karimi
Ilam University
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Mohsen Tavakoli
Ilam University
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Reza Omidipour
Ilam University
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Abstract

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.
14 Jan 2021Submitted to Land Degradation & Development
18 Jan 2021Submission Checks Completed
18 Jan 2021Assigned to Editor
25 Jan 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
14 Mar 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
29 Apr 20211st Revision Received
03 May 2021Submission Checks Completed
03 May 2021Assigned to Editor
08 Jun 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
22 Jun 20212nd Revision Received
22 Jun 2021Submission Checks Completed
22 Jun 2021Assigned to Editor
14 Oct 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
25 Oct 2021Editorial Decision: Accept
30 Jan 2022Published in Land Degradation & Development volume 33 issue 2 on pages 235-245. 10.1002/ldr.4140