Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Assistant professor, Hormozgan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center, Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Hormozgan, Iran
2 Assistant professor, Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Tehran, Iran
Abstract
This study was conducted to demonstrate the growth behavior of Aeluropus lagopoides, Desmostachya bipinnata, Halocnemum strobilaceum, Alhagi graecorum and Atriplex leucoclada in the Zaminsang rangelands of Hormozgan provinceduring 2007 to 2010. Determination of the production and consumption were done by the individuals in medium size. In each year, five medium individual of plant were selected for all months of growing and grazing season in exclosure area for measuring the production and the same number in the grazing range considered for measuring the production residue and from difference between them, the consumption was identified. Results indicated that different years and months had significant effect on production and consumption of the study species (p<0.05). According to the obtained data from the experiment indicated that, the average production of five perennials species was 125.8 kg dry forage per hectare. The highest production rate was obtained from Halocnemum strobilaceum and Desmostachya bipinnata in amount of 52.9% and 22.9% of total forage production, respectively. The average consumption of the species was 32.4 kg dry forage per hectare. The highest consumption rate was dedicated to Halocnemum strobilaceum and Alhagi graecorum, with amount of 41.8% and 30.1% of total forage consumption, respectively. The highest production rate was obtained from 2008 with 162.7 kg dry forage per hectare which was 1.8 times higher than low-production in 2009. The highest consumption rate for all species was 35.7 kg dry forage per hectare in 2009. The highest forage production and consumption were obtained in May in all species during the years.
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