Forage Quality of Calligonum comosum in Three Phenological Growth Stages (Case study: Kashan Rangelands, Iran)

Abstract

Determination of forage quality of plant species in natural habitats such as rangelands and deserts is one of the most important factors for grazing management of these ecosystems. For this purpose, the nutritional value of Calligonum comosum in three phenological stages (vegetative growth, flowering and seedling) were determined in desert habitats of Kashan. Aria; plant samples were collected from five plants as replication in each phenological stages and the forage quality indices as crude protein (CP), acid detergent fiber (ADF), crude fiber (CF), dry matter digestibility (DMD), total energy (TE) and metabolic energy (ME) were determined. The results of ANOVA showed significant effect of phenological traits on CP and TE (P<0.01) and dry matter digestible DMD and ME (P<0.05). The higher and lower mean values of CP, DMD, TE and ME were obtained in vegetative growth stage and seed maturity stage, respectively. For these traits the mean values of flowering stage were similar with vegetative growth stage. In contrast for ADF higher and lower mean values were obtained in seed maturity and vegetative growth stage, respectively. According the result of this research we can say that the Calligonum comosum in flowering and vegetative growth stage, has a higher quality than that for seed maturity stage, therefore, based on total indicators the flowering stage were considered as best stage for grazing of this plant species.