Evaluation of different FORAGE crops (clover, barley, chickpea, vetch, and fenugreek) and the planting method's impact on QUALITY and quantity of FORAGE yield is this study’ s main goal. The study has been conducted as a split-plot based on a randomized complete blocks design with three replications on the experimental research field of agriculture faculty, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz during 2017-2018. The main plot includes three planting methods (row intercropping with 10 cm and 20 cm interval and mixed intercropping) with the sub-plot being seven FORAGE crops with dominance of barley (50% barley+50% clover as control, 50% barley+25% clover+25% chickpea, 50% barley+25% clover+25% vetch, 50% barley+25% clover+25% fenugreek, and 50% barley+25% vetch+25% fenugreek). Total FORAGE yield and yield components as well as some QUALITY parameters of FORAGE (ADF, NDF, WSC, DMD, raw fiber and ash have been measured, with the results showing that the highest total FORAGE yield (1268. 9 g. m-2) belongs to crop diversity of 50% barley + 25% chickpea + 25% fenugreek with 10 cm-row intercropping. This can be due to the highest of all FORAGE yield components, including stem, leaves, and reproductive dry weight. On the contrary, mixed intercropping with the diversity of 50% barley + 50% clover (common method) has had the lowest total dry weight (607. 2 g. m-2), 47% less than row intercropping. For both QUALITY and quantity parameters, 10 cm-row intercropping have higher FORAGE yield and protein percentage than mixed intercropping, mainly because of higher leave weight produced. The 10-cm-row intercropping has lower CF, ADF, and NDF, but higher WSC and DMD than row intercropping. This variety explains higher raw fiber in mixed intercropping. Yet, it seems that crop diversity has no significant effect on FORAGE yield as well as increased QUALITY parameters, which improve the FORAGE QUALITY and digestibility statistically. Therefore, crop verity could be an effective factor to improve FORAGE yield quantity and QUALITY in crop management.

To study the mixing rates effects of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and chickpea (desi type) (Cicer ariethinum L.) on FORAGE production under dryland conditions, a field experiment was conducted at Agricultural Research Station of University of Tehran (Karaj campus) during the 2003 - 2004 growing season. The 11 Treatments of this experiment were statistically compared based on a Randomized Complete Block Design of three replications. Experimental treatments were arranged as a factorial of sowing density levels of chickpea (100%, 75% and 50% of pure stand) and barley (100%, 75% and 50% of pure stand). Also two additional treatments of chickpea and barley sole cropping were established as control. Barley grain (Valfajr cultivar) and chickpea (4322 ecotype) were simoultaniously planted on 20th December, green FORAGE being harvested on 10th May (next year). No manure or irrigation was applied in this experiment (dryland system adopted). FORAGE was harvested taking into account chickpea phenology (early flowering stage). Barley was the dominant plant in all the mixed treatments. Results showed that FORAGE yield of chickpea and barley was significantly affected by mixing rate (P<0.01). There was no significant difference among treatments including 100% chickpea for chickpea yield. A similar pattern was observed for barley grain yield. The highest FORAGE yield of 2981 Kg/1m was obtained for chickpea 100+barley100 intercrop treatment. FORAGE QUALITY investigation showed that all qualitative traits except Water Soluble Carbohydrates (WSC), were affected by mixing rate. Although the highest protein yield (358.5 Kg/ha) was earned from Chickpea50+Barley50 treatment, there was no significant difference observed with Chickpea100+Barley100 treatment (318.4 Kg/ha). Meanwhile, introducing chickpea into barley cropping system augmented FORAGE ash as well as crude fiber.

In order to maintain the nutritional status of livestock and achieve optimum performance of livestock on rangeland, range FORAGE must be able to provide the minimum requirement of grazing animal at various phenological stages. However, to be aware and getting informed of whether the rangeland FORAGE does have such a potential or not, it is necessary to provide a framework on the basis of scientific principles to classify the FORAGE QUALITY index. Moreover, this framework must be simple in terms of functionality and applicability to be used by the specialists. Until now, such a framework has not been provided for range FORAGE. Therefore, in the current paper, not only was the information of FORAGE QUALITY index of species in rangeland types of Taleghan provided, but also the desirable FORAGE QUALITY of species was classified. The species having more than 7% crude protein (CP) were very desirable; the ones having less than 5% crude protein were considered undesirable and if the crude protein of species were between 5 and 7%, they would be desirable. The species having more than 60% dry matter digestibility (DMD) were very desirable; the species having less than 40% dry matter digestibility were undesirable and if the dry matter digestibility of species were between 40 and 60%, they would be desirable. The species having more than 8 Mj/Kg DM metabolisable energy (ME) were very desirable; the species having less than 5 Mj/Kg DM metabolisable energy were undesirable and if the metabolisable energy of species were between 5 and 8 Mj/Kg DM, they would be considered desirable. The values of 7% crude protein (CP), 50% dry matter digestibility (DMD) and 8 Mj/Kg metabolisable energy (ME) were considered as the critical levels for maintenance requirement of an animal unit (non-pregnant and dry sheep with a mean weight of 50 kg). The daily requirement (dry FORAGE) of grazing animal unit equivalent (Fashandi breed sheep with the weight of 60.7 Kg) in rangeland types varied between 1.5 and 2.4 Kg per day when the FORAGE QUALITY was desirable. This value was less than 1.5 Kg when the FORAGE QUALITY was very desirable while it reached to 2.4 Kg when the FORAGE QUALITY was undesirable. Daily requirement of animal unit equivalent in rangelands of Taleghan in phenological stages of vegetative stage, flowering and seeding stage were 1.3, 1.6 and 1.9 Kg, respectively that the minimum and maximum values were recorded for vegetative and seeding stage, respectively. Results, discussion and the presented framework of classification in this paper are regarded as the fundamental information for management of animal and the rangeland in Taleghan and similar habitats in Iran, being able to provide a part of information for methods of determining the range condition, range trend and grazing capacity.

The effect of fire on vegetation of semi-arid steppe has not been studied extensively. Wildfires are rare in some steppe rangelands because of high levels of large herbivore grazing. However, grazing is sometimes restricted or excluded in areas such as national parks or the areas where afforestation projects are conducted. Therefore, sometimes, wildfires occur during the dormant season when litter (the uppermost layer of organic debris on the soil surface; essentially the freshly fallen or slightly decomposed vegetal material) mass has resulted in peak levels. Our study assessed the effects of a single fire on litter mass, FORAGE production, and FORAGE crude protein, Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF), and Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF) in high altitude rangelands of Eastern Anatolia. We found significant effects of treatment (fire and no fire), years, and sampling date on all variables. Following the prescribed fire in 2011, litter mass and FORAGE production was less in treated plots compared to untreated control plots during both years. The effect of the fire on litter and FORAGE production was more pronounced in 2012 compared to 2013. The effects of the fire on FORAGE QUALITY variables were also greater in 2012 than in 2013. FORAGE crude protein levels were consistently higher in treated plots during all 2012 sampling periods. Similarly, NDF and ADF tended to be lower in treated plots relative to the control plots during 2012. All effects we found were more pronounced in the first growing season following the fire compared to the second growing season, suggesting a relatively transient nature of fire effects in the steppe vegetation we studied.

In order to provide animal’ s nutritional requirements and production of animal protein, it is necessary to adjust the balanced diet and the correct nutrition plan., which is based on proper understanding of food and this is possible through the analysis of nutrients. This research aimed to study and compare of FORAGE QUALITY in seven species that are grazing by camel including: Nitraria schoberi, Smirnovia iranica, Seidlitzia rosmarinous, Stipagrostis plumosa, Astragalus squarrosus, Alhaji persarum and Zygophyllum eichwaldii conducted in two stages of vegetative growth at Maranjab desert rangelands. For this purpose, the indices of dry matter (DM), Crude Protein (CP), Dry Matter Digestibility (DMD), Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF), Metabolic Energy (ME), Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K) and Sodium (Na) were subjected to chemical analysis. The results showed that the FORAGE QUALITY indices between the species and phonological stages were significantly different (P<0. 01). In all species, as the growth stages and plant maturity progressed, the amount of crude protein, metabolic energy and phosphorus were decreased and the amount of dry matter and ADF were increased. While N. shoberi had the highest amount of crude protein (26. 51) in vegetative growth stage, S. rosmarinous showed the lowest protein (3. 91) at seeding stage. In addition to, with regard to both phonological stages, while the highest dry matter digestibility, metabolic energy, potassium and sodium were found in S. rosmarinous species, the highest amount of crude protein, nitrogen and phosphorus was observed in S. iranica species.