摘要：Background and Objective: Interaction among livestock, vegetation and watering point make a piosphere. Intensive grazing can alter the functions of water and soil in rangeland (erosion in the end), changing the rate of flow of energy and the availability of nutrients in ecological systems. The aim of this study was to evaluate indicators of soil surface condition in a steppe piosphere in Shahrood, Iran. Steppe zone Mojen is dominated by Astragalus-Artemisia vegetation type. Methodology: The trigger-transfer-reserve-pulse (TTRP) framework and landscape function analysis were used. All eleven indicators of soil surface processes were visually assessed using a semi-quantitative scale. All eleven indicators were combined to obtain three indices of soil surface condition (stability, infiltration and nutrient cycling). Data analyzed using SAS Proc GLM as one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) to find the differences. Means were compared using the Scheffé test. Results: Significant differences found among three distances 10, 100 and 1000 m for three soil surface indices infiltration, nutrient cycling and stability. The indices of nutrient cycling, stability and infiltration of Artemisia patches decreased near watering point as 10.58, 34.2 and 16.12%, respectively. Conclusion: Based on this study findings, range managers should rebuild patches and the runoff/runon processes around watering points and maintain the resources and build habitats and biodiversity and reduce harmful effects of piosphere.
