Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
Abstract
Due to the adaptability to arid and desert conditions, halophytes could supply a part of livestock forage requirement in early spring, summer, and especially autumn. However, there is little information on the forage quality of these plants. On the other hands, halophytes vary considerably in their nutritive value not only among species but also among phenological stages. Therefore, knowledge on forage quality of halophytes at each phenological stage could help the beneficiaries in arid regions to opt proper species for cultivation in haloculture programs as well as determining the suitable time for livestock grazing. In the present study, the effects of phenological stages on six forage quality traits were investigated for two halophytes ie., Atriplex leucoclada and Suaeda fruticosa. Plant samples were collected from saline lands in Garmsar, Semnan Province. The study was conducted in a completely randomized design with three replications. The results showed that the effects of phenological stages and species on forage quality were significant (P<0.01).The highest forage quality was obtained at vegetative growth stage and then it declined at the seeding stage. Overall, our results clearly indicate the higher forage quality of Suaeda fruticosa as compared with Atriplex leucoclada. Therefore, Suaeda fruticosa could be introduced as a new source of forage in saline lands on which other conventional fodders have no chance to grow and yield.
Keywords
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