A model of rangeland suitability for gum tragacanth exploitation

Kazem Saedi
Member of Scientific Board
Agriculture and Natural Resources Center of Kurdistan,
Iran
Email: [email protected], [email protected]

Presenting a new spatial model for suitability of gum tragacanth exploitation is the aim in this study. After preparing basic information including topographical 1:50000 maps, aerial photograph, vegetation types, as well as local exploiter’s comments, useful criteria were determined. For an application approach, all the stages were conducted in a fundamental like an exploitation project. To estimate the gum yield per cover area, a 100 m 2 circle quadrate was used in different types. Total yield for the studied site was estimated exceeding 18000 kg that should be exploited in a rest-rotational system during 5 years. Gum-productive Astragalus species form the average of 3% of vegetation cover. Using R2V, Idrisi 2, Arcview 3.2a as GIS software, maps of land form (slope, aspect and elevation from sea level), vegetation type, yield, distance from village, cultivated and rocky area as well as exploiters comment prepared.