Determination of Some Vegetation Characteristics in Forest Gap Rangelands of Sarıkamış

The forest gap rangelands are an important source of forage for both domestic and wild animals and there are not enough records about the status of these areas in our country. this study was carried out in sarıkamış scotch pine (pinus sylvestris l.) forests in order to determine the vegetation of forest gap rangelands. a total of 63 plant species were found in the pasture sections examined. the dominant plant species in rangelands sites were sheep fescue (festuca ovina) and bulbous bluegrass (poa bulbosa) of grasses and red clover (trifolium pratense) of legumes. in the study area, botanical composition was determined as 51.01% grasses, 17.50% legumes and 31.48% other plant families. the canopy coverage rate was determined as 24.56% on average. the highest rangeland quality degree was 53.21 in sparse rangeland and the lowest rangeland quality degree was 32.16 in covered rangeland site. for rangeland health; uncovered rangeland site was evaluated as “risky-fair” class, sparse rangeland site was evaluated as “unhealthy-good” class and covered rangeland site was evaluated as “unhealthy-fair” class. the similarity index was found from 31.5% and 47.5% among rangeland sites.