TY - JOUR T1 - The Effect of Degradaded Rangeland Change to Other Land Uses on Some Soil Quality Indicators in Safashahr, Fars Province TT - نقش تغییر کاربری مراتع تخریب شده بر برخی از ویژگی‌های کیفیت خاک در منطقه صفاشهر استان فارس JF - JSTNAR JO - JSTNAR VL - 18 IS - 69 UR - http://jstnar.iut.ac.ir/article-1-2868-en.html Y1 - 2014 SP - 131 EP - 140 KW - Degradaded rangelands KW - Land use change KW - Bulk density KW - Water dispersible clay KW - Aggregates stability KW - Organic matter. N2 - Improper use of rangelands may lead to their destruction. Therefore, the conversion of these degraded rangelands to agricultural lands and other land uses may improve their soil quality. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the impact of cultivation in the degraded rangelands on some soil characteristics in Safashahr region of Fars province. Four land uses including the rangeland with sparse vegetation (degraded rangeland), the rangeland converted to agricultural land over 17 years, the agricultural land converted to apple orchard for 4 years and also to an apple orchard for 40 years were selected. Samples were randomly taken from each land use at two depths (0-20 and 20-50 cm) with five replications. The results revealed that land use change significantly increased organic matter and MWD in both soil depths. Bulk density and water dispersible clay increased in agricultural land and new orchard while a decrease was observed for old apple orchard. It is suggested the traditional farming to be replaced with new cultivation methods like minimum tillage and no tillage. Overgrazing of the rangelands must also be avoided. M3 ER -