Investigation of Spatial variability of Artemisia aucheri yield, density and canopy cover using geostatistics methods (case study: Baladeh watershed)

The aim of present study was performed for study of spatial variation of Artemisia aucheri yield, density and canopy cover and its spatial relationship with soil properties and topographical factors in Baladeh semi-steppe rangelands, Noor. For this reason, 132 sample points were carried out within the form of a network of 550 × 600 m with the systematic method by the plots in 50 m through transects. Soil samples were taken in depth of 0 to 20 cm and the samples elevation, latitude and longitude were registered by GPS device and the slope percent was measured using a slope meter. To determine the yield, density and canopy cover percentage of Artemisia aucheri was used plots of 4 m2. The data normality was determined using Kolmogorov–Smirnov test and correlation of data using Pearson correlation coefficient using SPSS software. To perform of geostatictics analyses and provide of spatial distribution map were used GS and Arc/GIS softwares. According to spatial correlation analysis, among soil properties and topographical factors, soil organic matter and clay showed, a more strong space structure with the study species, Interpolation and obtained maps for spatial distribution of Artemisia aucheri was performed using Kriging, Cokriging and inverse distance weighting methods. In this study, except density, yield and canopy cover of Artemisia aucheri showed a weak space structure using Kriging. This result shows that this method were not validated for spatial variability of yield and canopy cover of Artemisia aucheri but were obtained a strong space structure using Cokriging methods for studying variables.