Creating Vegetation Map Based on Methods of Geomorphology and Physiography units

This study was carried out to create and compare vegetation maps based on geomorphology and physiography units methods. An area of about 16230 hectares comprised of four sub-watersheds of Arton, Kash, Zidasht and Kalanak were selected in Taleghan region.In Geomorphology method different maps of hipsometry, slope, aspect, geomorphologyical facies and lithology were prepared.
Created maps were integrated to obtain a uniform terrain mapping unit. Each unit in this map was taken as a base of management and measurement for vegetation parameters . In Physiography method, map of primary vegetation type was obtained using 1:20000 areal photographs. This map was modified, based on field observations, to produce actual vegetation map. Then vegetation parameter assessment was conducted within each vegetation type. Arcinfo, Idrisi and Arcview softwares were used for integrating"and digitalizing maps.Vegetation maps obtained from either of Geomorphological
and physiographical methods were compared. According to the results, in spite of expectations, in some terrain units there were more than one vegetation type or in some vegetation types more than one terrain unit was found. In a general sense, there did not exist a strong relationship between vegetation types and terrain mapping units in the study area.