Huang, D., Wang, K. and Wu, W.L. (2007) Dynamics of Soil Physical and Chemical Properties and Vegetation Succession Characteristics during Grassland Desertification under Sheep Grazing in an Agro-Pastoral Transition Zone in Northern China. Journal Arid Environment, 70, 120-136. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaridenv.2006.12.009

has been cited by the following article:

• TITLE: Changes in Vegetation Proprieties under Short- and Long-Term Protection in North African Arid Land

  AUTHORS: Fathia Abdallah, Mohamed Chaieb

  KEYWORDS: Arid environment; Protection; Vegetation; Grazing

  JOURNAL NAME: American Journal of Plant Sciences, Vol.5 No.7, March 24, 2014

  ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to quantify the effects of protection on herbaceous species composition, total plant cover, dry matter, plant density, floristic richness and diversity. Characteristics of vegetation under continued grazing and protected area for 10 and 65 years were examined in a degraded arid environment in South Tunisia. Our results show that protection enhances significantly (two times) different vegetation parameters. However, long-term protection was found to reduce biomass production, plant density and floristic diversity. Some palatable species such as Stipagrostis ciliata, Helianthemum sessiliflorum, Eragrostis papposa, Echiochilon fruticosum and Cenchrus ciliaris were frequently found in the protected sites. In the grazed site, these species were being replaced by less desirable species: Astragalus armarus, Peganum harmala and Artemisia compestris. This emphasized the importance of conservation stocking rates and proper pasture management.