Shrub transplantation for watershed management and range improvement in Iran.

In the Central Plateau, covering a large portion of Iran, cold winters, hot summers, low precipitation, low atmospheric humidity and high evaporation combine to make a difficult environment for plant growth. Transplanting shrub species has been shown to be one possible way to revegetate these rangelands. The studies reported in this thesis were conducted in the Central Plateau of Iran with objectives to determine the best methods and season for growing and transplanting three saltbush species, determine a correlation between height of transplants and per cent survival, determine palatability of Atriplex canescens compared to Artemisia herba-alba and Kochia prostrata, determine total production per hectare of transplanted areas, and determine cost of shrub transplanting in large scale operations. Fourwing saltbush (Atriplex canescens) was the most adapted of the three saltbushes tested for growth in nurseries in plastic bags and transplanted in the Central Plateau of Iran. Transplanting in October and November when transplants were about 20 to 30 am high was the most promising practice. Although the cost of transplanting when compared with other revegetation practices is high, the chances of success are also high, and production per hectare can be increased at least threefold within a 4-year period. The palatability of Atriplex canescens is intermediate between Kochia prostrata and Artemisia herba-alba.hydrology collectio