Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Assistant Professor, Department of Natural Resources, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Gonbad Kavous University, Gonbad Kavous, Iran
2 B.Sc. in Rangeland and Watershed Management, Gonbad Kavous University. Gonbad Kavous, Iran
3 Assistant Professor, Department of Plant Production, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Gonbad Kavous University, Gonbad Kavous, Iran
Abstract
Grazing and harvesting are two major ways of utilizing natural and artificial grasslands. Current research was aimed at studying the effects of shoot cutting frequency on total phytomass, above-ground phytomass, underground phytomass, the condition of tillering, and the tolerance of four halophytes (P. distans, A. littoralis, A. lagopoides and J. articulates) against cutting. This experiment was carried out in a completely randomized design with 7 replications. Four mentioned species and four different cuttings were considered as treatments. Seedlings of four species in growth stage were collected from grasslands of Inchebroon, located in north of Agh-ghala, and were cultivated in the pots. During the growth period, aerial parts of the species were cut at 6 cm above the soil surface of pots in four cutting treatments including once every week, once every two weeks, once every four weeks, and control treatment. Results indicated that total phytomass, above- ground phytomass and underground phytomass of A. littoralis, A. lagopoides and J. maritimus reduced as a response to the stress of cutting compared with control treatment. Consequently, these three species cannot retrieve total phytomass in comparison with control treatment. Total phytomass of P. distans remained stable in all treatments; therefore this species is able to retrieve phytomass loss completely. Repeating cutting decreased the number of shoots in four species. According to the results, in one-year experimental conditions, P. distans was identified as a high-tolerant species against cutting while A. littoralis, A. lagopoides and J. maritimus showed a medium tolerance.
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