Abstract: Stem of plants can be used as animal grazing, wind erosion control, reduce water flow, increase evaporation and transpiration. In NW of Iran (East Azerbaijan province), rangelands was utilized with animal grazing and changed to agricultural land use; this vegetation is unsuitable vegetation coverage. Researchers studied Carthamus oxyacantha to determine its stem biomass characteristics. Data were collected with accidental sampling method (1x1 m) in this aria. In total of 4 plots were collected and 20 samples were studied in this research. Minimum, maximum and mean stem biomasses of this plant were 6.5, 20.3 and 10 g, respectively.

INTRODUCTION

Rangeland ecosystem stabling, optimum and continuum utilization of range without studding and knowing effective factors on its segments and animal pasturage have special importance (Mozaffarian, 2007; Shadkami-Til and Bibalani, 2010, 2011a, b). There are different methods for evaluating range position that all of them have special advantages and disadvantages and each of them have different factors such as species composition percentage, production, coverage, densit, soil position (soil surface coverage and erosion), cadaver, birthing, constitution and succulence plants were used (Bidlock et al., 1999; Mogaaddam, 2001) but estimation of these parameters are time consuming and expensive. Fresquez et al. (1990) reported an increase in vegetative production and forage quality of blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis (H.B.K.) Lag. ex Steud.) (Mata-Gonzalez et al., 2002). Benton and Wester (1998) reported an increase in tobosagrass (Hilaria mutica (Buckl.) Benth.) yield following applications of biosolids at levels of 7, 18 and 34 dry Mg ha^-1 in the Chihuahuan desert.

Although, dormant season applications of biosolids seem to be more beneficial for plant growth than growing season applications during the year of biosolids application (Benton and Wester, 1998), explanations for this phenomenon have not been documented (Mata-Gonzalez et al., 2002).

Fig. 1:	A part of Shanjan rangeland from Shabestar distract, East Azerbayjan province, Iran

Most evidence is related to its negative effect on aboveground vegetative and reproductive plant biomass (Day et al., 2003; Milchunas and Lauenroth, 1993), changes in the spatial patterning of plant canopies and soil resources (Adler et al., 2001; Bertiller and Coronato, 1994; Callaway, 1995; McNaughton et al., 1998; Schlesinger et al., 1996), the reduction of soil seed banks (Bertiller, 1996, 1998; Mayor et al., 2003), the decrease in the availability of safe micro-sites for plant reestablishment (Oesterheld and Sala, 1990) and the invasion of woody plants (Milchunas and Lauenroth, 1993; Schlesinger et al., 1990; Rodriguez et al., 2007).

Above-ground defoliation can modify the partitioning of assimilates between belowground and above-ground organs and consequently the root growth of defoliated plants (Belsky, 1986; Richards and Caldwell, 1985; Snyder and Williams, 2003; Rodriguez et al., 2007). In this research, researchers have studied the amount of over ground biomass and Carthamus oxyacantha species (Ghahraman, 2002) (Fig. 1) at rangeland area of Shanjan village, Shabestar district, NW Iran. This parameter needs more attention but it is one of the determined factors of rangeland ecosystem stabling in that place.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Research area is part of Shanjan rangeland from Shabestar distract with distance is about 5 km from it (Fig. 1). This area is hill area and researchers study on N aspect (Salimi Faed, 2003). This region is component Flora Iran and Turan with elation between 1700-1850 m (Pabot and Beck, 1990).

Table 1:	Scientific name for carthamus oxyacantha classification report (Encyclopedia of Life, 2011)

Fig. 2:	Carthamus oxyacantha species

Fig. 3:	Sampling design in 1x1 m plot (Ping et al., 2010)

One of the Carthamus specie is Carthamus oxyacantha (Table 1, Fig. 2) that commonly grow in this studying area. The genus Carthamus includes about 14 species of Mediterranean plants in the daisy family. The best known species is the Safflower. Stem biomass was sampled in May and Jun, 2010. For recognition of species for sampling, there was used of accidental sampling method (1x1 m plot) and select 4x5 = 20 samples totally (Ping et al., 2010) (Fig. 3). Produced sapling from area studding plants after sending to laboratories, they scale fresh weight of over ground part with careful and sensitive scale then dry weight of over ground part of plant is determined by Avon set after drying in 80°C temperature during 24 h (Ping et al., 2010).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Results of this study have been showed that the maximum, minimum and medium stem biomass of Carthamus oxyacantha in studding area were 6.5, 20.3 and 10 g, respectively (Fig. 4). Stem height Carthamus oxyacantha was unsteady from 250-920 mm that in average it is about 700 mm.

In total of 4 plots were collected and 20 samples were studied in this research. In total of 20 samples of about 80% of stem weight have been losses when samples dried. Vegetal species can effect on soil chemical and physical properties (Ardekani, 2003). Increasing Carthamus oxyacantha species in studying area can cause specific biological qualification and as this species increase density of over ground biomass will increase and also the amount of soil protection and stabling will increase specially protection with wind erosion and soil losing with runoff (Shadkami-Til and Bibalani, 2010, 2011b).

Fig. 4:	Carthamus oxyacantha steam weight (fresh and dried weight)

In this study researchers examined the biomass of this plant and results suggest that changes in the over ground cover of this plant affect by grazing or soil compaction with animal at this area as found in other studies (Rodriguez et al., 2007; Shadkami-Til and Bibalani, 2011b; Bibalani, 2011a-c) and The difference of wet weight and biomass of this plant would be expected in this area (Bibalani et al., 2010; 2011a, b; Shadkami-Til and Bibalani, 2010, 2011a).

CONCLUSION

This study has revealed and quantified the stem biomass of the Carthamus oxyacantha in the Shanjan rangelands, the plant has good biomass in this research area and probably also in other areas where the Carthamus oxyacantha is growing that need studding separately in another areas. It is a pioneer study and the results have given estimations of the stem biomass of the Carthamus oxyacantha for the 1st time in Shanjan rangeland. It is need for studding such as this for all shrubs and plant in this area and another place for recognizing the best plant for rangeland ecosystem stabling and stabilizing surface soil erosion, specially wind erosion.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The researchers greatly acknowledge the scientific support from Islamic Azad University, Shabestar Branch to the 1st researcher for this study. The 1st researcher is one of scientifics member of Islamic Azad University-Shabestar Branch and this study is a part of his project with title of study on root development forbs and shrubs on Shanjan Range of Shabestar area and effect of them on soil surface and subsurface erosion control with project No. 51955880630001 that have been worked in 2010. The researchers also express their sincere appreciation to the anonymous reviewer (s) for their helpful to improve study quality.