Model of Extensive Cattle Grazing for Sustainable Use in Rangelands

To design a model for sustainable utilization of rangeland suitability to cattle grazing, based on geographic information system (GIS) was considered. The framework of the study was based on FAO method for land evaluation (1991). The most important and feasible factors affect in rangeland suitability for grazing was investigated. From which three sub models including water accessibility, forage production and soil erosion sensitivity were developed. Suitable areas in four levels of (high suitable (S1), moderately suitable (S2), marginally suitable (S3), and not suitable (N)) were calculated in Sorkh-abad watershed. In general, slope and sensitivity of soil to erosion, were major limitation of range suitability in this region. Also, it was pointed out that none of the vegetation factors, was limiting factor, but some areas were recognized as S3 class due to the effect of erodible class as limiting factor and reduced production suitability class. High slope was caused reduction of suitability for cattle grazing due to difficulty of accessibility to watering points. Also, the results shows that 34.94% of rangeland is classified as moderate suitability (S2) and 6% and 59.60% are arranged as low suitability (S3) and non-suitable (N).