ABSTRACT
Sulaybia Field Station (SFS) has been protected from grazing by the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research. During 1980–81 and 1983–89 botanical composition, species diversity, herbage production and ground cover were determined by the quadrant placement method. Correlation between vegetation and precipitation was estimated by the linear regression model. Seasonal precipitation was classified as above normal during the first decade from 1969/70 to 1978/79 and subnormal during the second decade 1979/80 to 1988/89. Seasons of 1983/84 and 1988/89 were considered dry seasons.
A significant decline in botanical composition, species diversity, herbage production, and ground cover was recorded in the second decade 1979/80 to 1988/89. The four parameters also fluctuated annually due to fluctuations in seasonal precipitation. Forbs and grasses showed a significant decline during the two dry seasons. Shrubs were not seriously affected. Some plant species and the total vegetation were positively and significantly correlated to seasonal and annual precipitation (r=0.77). Whereas shrubs were not significantly correlated to either precipitation. This study confirms the view that Kuwait’s rangelands are highly influenced by environmental factors such as precipitation, sand encroachment and soil erosion, and that changes in vegetation caused by drought (alone) may be as dramatic as changes attributed to grazing effects.
