Hamed Zarif Ketabi; Amr ali Shahmoradi; Majid Dashti; Asghar Paryab; Gholam reza Hosseini-Bamrood; Sadegheh Zarekia
Volume 17, Issue 3 , October 2010, , Pages 421-430
Abstract
Melica persica is a perennial grass from Poaceae family with a partly wide adaptability which makes it an important range plant species, especially for soil conservation. It is native to Iran and mostly grows in Irano-Torani and Hirkani regions. To study autecology of Melica persica, its habitats in ...
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Melica persica is a perennial grass from Poaceae family with a partly wide adaptability which makes it an important range plant species, especially for soil conservation. It is native to Iran and mostly grows in Irano-Torani and Hirkani regions. To study autecology of Melica persica, its habitats in Khorasan region were identified and habitat characteristics including climate, topography and soil were investigated in several sites. Afterwards, regeneration, phenology, density, canopy cover, root system and chemical compositon of forage were also studied. The results indicated that distribution of M. persica was partlywidefrom north to south of khorasan region and especially in rocky foothills (altitude 900-2900 m). It was laso seen in all geographic aspects and a slope of 12-89 percent. M. persica habitats are mainly located in 3 climates of very cold semi-arid, very cold mediterranean and cold semi-arid. Mean annual temperature and precipitation of M. persica habitats differ from 5-15 degrees centigrade and 125-600 mm, respectively. This plant prefers well-drainaged soils of gravelly loam, gravelly silty loam and gravelly sandy loam texture. Optimal pH and EC are 7 to 8 and 0.5-1.5 ds/m respectively. Rocky soils and specially sheil, volcanic and lime stones are the main bed for its establishment. Vegetative growth of this plant starts from mid March and continues to mid May. Depending on altitude, heading stage starts from early May to late May. During late May to early June seeds are at milk stage and seed dissemination happens 20 days later. Results also showed that the effect of seed storage period on seed viability was non-significant. Plant natural regeneration is mainly via seed. Forage chemical composition analysis showed a protein of 21.6 and 8.1 % in vegetative and flowering stages respectively.
Majid Dashti; Amrali Shahmoradi; Hamed Zarif ketabi; Asghar Paryab; GHolamreza Hosseini-Bamrood; Sadegheh Zarekia
Volume 16, Issue 3 , December 2009, , Pages 401-408
Abstract
Salsola orientalis S .G.Gmelin is a perennial plant species of chenopodiaceae family. Because of its palatability, as a range plant, and recent drought it has been overgrazed in a way that it was eliminated in some areas, or only the individual plants of this species could be found. This research was ...
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Salsola orientalis S .G.Gmelin is a perennial plant species of chenopodiaceae family. Because of its palatability, as a range plant, and recent drought it has been overgrazed in a way that it was eliminated in some areas, or only the individual plants of this species could be found. This research was conducted to map the habitats of the plant in Khorasan region and investigate on its habitat characteristics (topographic, climatic, edaphic), phenology, regeneration, root system, density, and canopy cover. Results showed that elevation range for the habitats of this plant is 500-1500 meters above sea level. It could be found on different aspects and slopes of 5-40 percent. Annual precipitation and temperature are 150-400 mm and 10-17.5 degree centigrade, respectively. In most of its habitats, in Khorasan region, this plant is accompanied with dominant species of Artemisia diffusa, Artemisia sieberi, Poa bulbosa and some other species of genus Salsola. This range plant grows on moderately deep to deep soils with sandy loam to silty loam texture, acidities of about 7.4-7.8, and EC of 0.8-7.2 ds/m. It has a tap root system. So many small branch roots are connected to the main root. The root system can infiltrate into the soil to a depth of 1.5 meters. Phenology stages for Salsola orientalis showed that vegetative growth is from early March until early June. Flowering starts in late May. Seed ripening is in late October until mid November. Seed dissemination happens in late November until early December. Plant regeneration is via seeds. At phenological stage of seed formation, chemical analysis of forge portion resulted in 13.4% protein, 18.28% ashes, 2.62% calcium, and 26.19% fiber.