To investigate the effects of fertilizer regimes on quantitative AND qualitative traits of Dracocephalum kotschyi Boiss, a field experiment at three replications with the Split Plate arrangement in a completely rANDomized block design was conducted in the Research Field of Tarbiat Modares University during the 2017-18 growing season.Water deficit stress (irrigation after discharging 20 (optimal irrigation), 40 (mild water deficit stress), 60 (moderate water deficit stress) AND 80% (severe water deficit stress) of water used (available water)) in the main plot AND fertilizer regime (urea, nitroxin, vermicompost, azocompost AND no fertilizer) in the subplot were studied. The results showed that the highest leaf fresh weight (1797 kg ha-1) AND total biomass (2957 kg ha-1) were obtained by application of urea in mild water deficit stress condition AND the highest dry matter digestibility percentage was observed in azocompost treatment in moderate water deficit stress condition (57.8%). The highest crude protein was produced in severe water deficit stress condition (19.72%) AND moderate water deficit stress (18.4%), respectively.. The highest percentage of water soluble carbohydrate AND neutral detergent fiber were obtained from no fertilizer in moderate water deficit stress (22.06%) AND application of urea in severe water deficit stress conditions, respectively. Mild water deficit stress application to produce high biomass is recommended for Dracocephalum kotschyi Boiss. According to the results, application of urea in mild water deficit stress was selected as the best treatment to produce FORAGE 32% more than control.

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 study the effects of intercropping maize (Zea mays L.) with some legumes on FORAGE YIELD AND QUALITY of maize, a two year field experiments was carried out based on rANDomized complete block design with three replications at the Agricultural Research Station, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tabriz, Iran, during 2006-2007. Two maize hybrids (SC704, SC301), vetch (Vicia villosa), bitter vetch (Vicia ervilia), berseem clover (Trifolium alexANDrinumL.) AND common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) sole crops as well as intercrops of maize hybrids with each of the legumes were used. Results of analysis of variance showed that dry matter (DM) YIELD of corn in intercropping with vetch AND bitter vetch decreased. The corn dry matter YIELD loss in intercrop treatments in comparison with the sole crop of maize was 15.80 percentages. The study of FORAGE QUALITY characteristics indicated that maize ash AND crude protein (CP) content in intercropping was increased because of having complementary effects in nutrients absorption. On the average of two years, the highest ash AND CP content were achieved in intercropping of maize hybrids with berseem clover AND bean. Amount of increase in ASH AND CP for maize hybrids (704 AND 301) in intercropping as compared to their monoculture was 9.43, 11.02, 14.52 AND 18.42 percent, respectively. Thus, maize intercrops with bean AND berseem clover had higher CP AND also more CP YIELD in relation to its monoculture. The reason for this finding could be the larger transfer of fixed N from these legumes to maize AND also smaller reduction of maize YIELD in intercropping with these legumes as compared with the vetch AND bitter vetch.

Fifteen FORAGE sorghum lines developed in sorghum breeding program in Iran were evaluated for FORAGE YIELD under Karaj condition in Iran in 2007-2009 growing seasons. The experimental design was rANDomized complete block design with four replications. Four traits including fresh fodder, dry matter, plant height AND number of tillers were measured in each cutting. All treatments were harvested at two cuttings. Combined analysis of variance showed significant differences between growing seasons, sorghum lines, cuttings, growing season × lines, line × cutting, growing season × cutting AND growing season × line × cutting interactions for all of traits. Since the growing season × lines AND growing season × cutting interactions were significant, therefore, combined analysis of variance was performed for each growing season. KFS3, KFS1, KFS18 AND KFS2 FORAGE sorghum lines produced the highest fresh fodder with 182.8, 172.4, 144.7 AND 143.1 t.ha-1 AND dry matter with 33.8, 30.3, 29.1 AND 26.4 t.ha-1, respectively. Dry matter production of KFS17 AND KFS2 was similar. However, KFS6 produced the lowest fresh fodder AND dry matter with 106.6 AND 21.8 t.ha-1, respectively. The highest AND lowest plant height was recorded forKFS3 AND KFS10 with 195.8 AND 138.9 centimeter, respectively. KFS10 AND KFS1 FORAGE sorghum lines produced the highest AND lowest tiller number with 3.0 AND 2.2 tillers.plant-1, respectively.

One of the approaches to agricultural sustainability is using diversity of plant species, including FORAGE crops. A total of 64 accessions of FORAGE grass genus: Agrostis, Bromus, Dactylis, Festuca AND Phalaris were sown in a field experiment, AND their agro-morphological traits were characterized according to stANDard descriptors. A high diversity was observed for most of the studied traits on the genus. F test was significant for most of the traits based on one-way ANOVA. Duncan mean comparison method was performed to grouping genus based on the recorded traits. Phalaris located in the highest rank for herbage summer YIELD followed by Bromus, Festuca AND Dactylis in the next group AND Agrostis AND Poa located in the last group. Results showed FORAGE grasses can be seemed as cANDidate to be used in agronomy systems due to the existence of high potential for forge YIELD in the studied materials.

On-farm production of protein is limited in most dairy farm operations in arid AND semi-arid environments. Cereal-legume intercropping could be a viable option to obtain FORAGE with higher protein content. A two-year experiment was conducted during 2009 AND 2010 growing seasons in a loamy soil to determine whether intercropping pattern of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) AND annual medic (Medicago scutellata L.) could increase FORAGE QUALITY while producing sufficient amount of FORAGE YIELD. The results showed that when number of rows in 50:50 replacement intercropping decreased from six rows of barley AND six rows of medic (6B:6M) (strip intercropping) to 4B:4M, 2B:2M AND 1B:1M, barley FORAGE YIELD increased by 9, 18 AND 24% due to a wavy canopy created by 1B:1M AND 2B:2M cropping ratios. LAND Equivalent Ratio (LER) was highest (1.19) when barley was intercropped with annual medic in 1B:1M arrangement indicating that 19% more area would be required by a sole cropping system to YIELD similar of intercropping system. The highest protein YIELD was also obtained from 1B:1M ratio. Pure stAND of annual medic had the highest Crude Protein (CP) content (310.7 g kg-1 of DM) whereas sole cropping of barley had the highest Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF) AND Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF). When both FORAGE YIELD AND QUALITY was considered, the intercropping of barley AND medic with 1B:1M ratio was superior to any other ratios AND can be recommended to farmers as an alternative to barley alone.

In order to study the adaptability AND determine the cultivation value of new corn hybrids, 16 FORAGE maize genotypes of local AND exotic origin were evaluated along with three common genotypes (KSC704, Bolson AND Massil) in four different regions (Karaj, Maghan, Jovein AND Dezful) using rANDomized complete block design with four replications in two years (2020 AND 2021). Important traits such as days to flowering, plant height, ear height, ear-to-plant ratio AND wet silage YIELD were recorded, based on the manual of value for cultivation AND use test. To evaluate the YIELD stability, Francis AND Kannenberg's environmental coefficient of variation was used. The results of two-years mean comparison of YIELD showed that Egean, Sy-Lavaredo, ZP873, Zarin2 AND Zarin3 hybrids had the highest FORAGE YIELD with 65.4, 64.8, 64.7, 63.8 AND 62.3 tons per hectare, respectively, While the average YIELD of check varieties was 60 tons per hectare. Sy-ANDromeda, Sy-Lavaredo, Egean, Jeta poly, Zarin 1, Zarin 2, Zarin 3 AND ZP873 hybrids can be introduced with general adaptability, due to their higher YIELD AND YIELD stability in comparison with the check varieties. Sy-Bilbao AND BT-6470 hybrids are recommended in Karaj AND Jovein regions AND Ajeeb AND ZP600 hybrids are also recommended in Jovein region with specific adaptability. ZP707, RGT-Joxxlin, RGT-Coruxxo AND Exxupery hybrids do not deserve to release as a new variety because of low FORAGE YIELD AND YIELD adaptability in comparison with the check varieties.

FORAGE YIELD AND some physiological traits of a FORAGE sorghum cultivar (Speed feed) was studied in three irrigation intervals 4, 7 AND 10 days in the Azad university of Iranshahr in 2003 cropping season. The experimental deasign was split plot based on rANDomized complete blocks with three replications. Irrigation intervals were studied in main plots AND plant density of 8, 12 AND 15cm were assigned to sub-plots. Planting was carried out in May 5, 2003. Different physiological traits associated to FORAGE YIELD AND its components were measured durring growing season. Analysis of variance AND mean comparison were porformed using the principles of split plot design AND DMRT, respectively. The best irrigation intervals AND plant density determined. In this expriment the best irrigation interval, were 4 AND 7 days AND the best plant density was 12cm. Results indicated that fresh FORAGEs are in the same group as irrigation interval, of 4 AND 7 days, AND the best plant density was 12cm. However, after drying the dry FORAGE at first irrigation level AND the second plant density level (37130 kg/ha) was the highest.