Comparing five medic species for yield and physiologic triats in rainfed conditions at Kermanshah provience.

Document Type : Research Paper

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Abstract

Medics are the most important forage species in the world. Regarding forage production and quality, nitrogen fixation and preventing land erosion, they are of particular importance. Effects  of rainfed conditions on forage yield quality of five medic species namely M. orbicularis, M. rigidula, M. turbinate, M. radiat and M. minina were investigated based on a three times replicated randomized complete block design. Results showed that in the rainfed conditions the effect of medic species on water leaf percentage, stems number, and dry weight was significant at 1% level of probablity.  Also there were significant differences between the species for physiologic growth duration, ratio of leaf to stem and chlorophyll fluorescence at 5% level of probablity. However, there were not significant differences between the species for plant height. Regarding forage yield, M. orbicularis M. rigidula, M. turbinate, and M. radiat located in the first class by 1451, 1681, 1667 and 1451 kg/h yield respectively. M minma with 1195 kg/h located in the second class. M. rigidul was the most suitable species based on the studied characteristics. This species showed a reasonable stability and forage yield in the region. 

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