Environmental Factors and the Presence of Medicinal Species in Khosh Yeylagh Rangelands in Golestan Province

Insight into the relationship between plants and environmental characteristics is essential for managing rangeland ecosystems. The present study investigate the effect of soil and topographic factors on the distribution of the most important medicinal plants in Khosh Yeilagh Golestan province. Parameters such as density, frequency and canopy percent were the subjects of the study. Random-systematic method was used through plots establishment along the transect in the study area. The geolocation and gradient levels, altitude and sea level were measured and recorded. Through each transect, soil samples were taken at the center of 3 plots from 0 to 30 cm depth. Physical and chemical properties of soil were then measured. In order to introduce the most effective environmental factor on distribution of medicinal plants, Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA) and Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) were used in PC-ORD5. The result of CCA showed 53% of the total variation was justified by the first, second and third axes. Elevation, geographic and organic factors with correlation coefficient of -0.520, 0.472 and -0.470, respectively, in the first axis of ordination, the gradient factor with a correlation coefficient of 0.601,-0.568 and -0.558 in the second axis and the sand percent factor with a correlation of 0.400 in the third axis of ordination was introduced as the most effective factors on the distribution of medicinal species in khosh Yeilagh. Obviously in future rehabilitation of the rangelands result of the study could improve the production of the medicinal plants.