Selection of suitable species of forage crops along with cultivation package is a critical decision For developing of forage crops in the rainfed conditions. Overall researches on forage crop at dryland condition during last 15 years (2003-2018), accessions of indigenous and exotic germplasm of three grass pea species, two field pea, six vetch species and 15 annual medics have been evaluated at research stations of Dryland Agricultural Research and suitable species along with superior genotypes for different agro-ecological zones have been identified. Maragheh vetch with 2. 5 t/ha mean dry biomass, was released for moderate and warm areas of Iran. Golsefid and Lamei form Hungarian vetch and Golshan from winter vetch with 3 t/ha dray biomass yield are suitable for fall planting at cold and moderate dryland areas and also Toloa was released with 2. 8 t/h dry biomass yield for warm draland areas. Despite the superiority vetchs at cold and fall planting, it was evident that tolerance to drought condition in grasspea was more than vetch and some good promising lines for grasspea are under releasing. In addition to suitable forage cultivars for increasing yields, different mix culture systems like legume-cereal and also legume-legume was evaluated under dryland conditions, which increased the dry biomass yield up to 6 t/ha with maraghe vetch + barely and at least 20% more dry fodder yield at legume-legume mix culture. Iranian annual medics showed poor performance in rainfed conditions in spite of cold tolerance presence in some species.

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 assess agronomic and economical aspects of mixed cropping of alfalfa and annual forage crops a filed experiment was carried out using split plot arrangement in randomized complete block design with three replications, in research field of Seed and Plant Improvement Institute, Karaj, Iran in 2007 and 2008 growing seasons. Experimental treatments included mixed ratio of alfalfa seed with other forage crops (Pesian clover, Crimson clover and Forage rape). These ratios were 100:0, 75:25, 50:50 and 0:100 (alfalfa: forage crop). For agronomic traits, fresh and dry forage yield, analysis of variance and mean comparison were preformed. For economical assessment partial budgeting and breakeven analysis were used. Results showed that there were significant differences among mixed cropping treatments for fresh and dry forage yield. Substitution of 75% Alfalfa + 25% Crimson clover by other mixed cropping treatment was not profitable. Application of 75% Alfalfa + 25% Crimson clover had 14.94 million Iranian rials per hectare net profil which was greater than the other treatments. Breakeven point for selected treatment (75% Alfalfa + 25% Crimson clover) in comparison with sole crop of alfalfa (Second priority treatment) and 75% Alfalfa + 25% Forage rape (Third priority treatment) were estimated 22.8 and 24.8 million Iranian Rials, respectively. Breakeven points of gross income of selected (75% Alfalfa + 25% Crimson clover) in comparison to sole crop of Alfalfa and 75% Alfalfa + 25% Forage rape were 34.6 and 32.7 million Iranian Rials, respectively.

Introduction Temperature influences plant physiological processes, cellular structure and development. Habitat from which plants originate has undeniable effects on plant tolerance to cold temperatures. Plants from higher latitudes exhibit more tolerance to cold stress than plants from lower latitudes. When plants are exposed to cold stress, a sequence of events is triggered inside them, leading to an improved tolerance to the environmental condition. This phenomenon is known as plant hardening. Having access to winter-hardened species and cultivars is one of the important necessities for the development of crop production systems in local microclimates of cold regions. Utilizing genetic diversity in crop plant resources is an important approach towards achieving sustainable agriculture. Diversity in Iran`s forage germplasm for traits such as early maturity, high ratio of leaf to stem, dense ground cover and high yield has been shown in temperate regions such as Karaj and Mashhad (Abbasi, 2009, Abbasi et al., 2017). Testing a selection of these germplasm accessions can determine their potential for growing under water-limited conditions in cold regions. Hence, different genera and species of legumes in national plant gene bank of Iran originated from high latitudes were used to be evaluated under cold growing conditions. Materials and Methods A total of 124 annual-forage accessions from 40 species and 10 genera were selected based on the previous research works and were planted in an experimental filed at Jolge-Rokh agricultural research station. The number of accessions in each genus included Trifolium (36 accessions), annual medics (28 accessions), Onobrychis (9 accessions), Vicia (21 accessions), Melilotus (17 accessions), Lolium (6 accessions), Bromus (5 accessions), and Phalaris (1 accession), Lathyrus (1 accession) and barley (1 accession). Each accession was planted in two 2-meter long rows spaced 50 cm apart using an augmented experimental design. Some of the traits characterized in this study from autumn to spring included growth rate in spring and autumn, cold-tolerance score, plant height etc (IPIGRI, 1984). Statistical descriptive parameters were determined for the evaluated traits. One-way ANOVA (analysis of variance) and Duncan's multiple tests were performed on data of each trait. The analyses were carried out by SPSS 15. Results and Discussion Meteorological data showed that there were a total of 68 days of freezing temperatures in the region from November till March. The lowest absolute temperature recorded was-17. 4 ° C in December. Also, the mean of daily minimum temperature for December, January, February and March was below zero and the mean of daily maximum temperature for December, January and February was-10 ° C, indicating the occurrence of cold stress in the region. The results of one-way ANOVA analysis for the investigated genera and species showed that there were significant differences among their traits at 1 % probability level, particularly prior to cold stress. Lolium and Bromus were the most tolerant species among the narrow-leaved forages and the tested germplasm. Among forage legumes, sweet clover exhibited the highest tolerance to cold temperatures. Although the species vicia, Lathyrus and Iranian clover were not tolerant to cold, they were found to be beneficial in terms of soil conservation and sustainability due to the production of proper vegetative cover prior to the cold spell, which lasted till the spring of the next year. Based on the results of this investigation, the studied species and genera can be classified into the following groups: 1-Cold-tolerant forage grasses including accessions of Lolium: 14TN00072, 14TN00038, 14TN00052, 14TN00054 and accessions of Bromus: 10TN00049, 10TN00012, 10TN00036, 10TN00039, and 10TN00026. 2-Cold-susceptible forage grasses such as accessions: KC126013 (L. temelentum) and barley. Although this group was sensitive to cold, they produced good vegetative cover on ground before the occurrence of cold, which can be used as mulch for soil protection throughout the year. 3-Cold-tolerant legumes, such as accessions of Melilotus: 58TN00025, 58TN00047, MahNo313, 58TN00182, 58TN00223, 58TN00140, 58TN00181, 58TN00080, and 58TN00190 4-Cold-susceptible forage legumes: they were categorized into two groups, one group produced good vegetative cover on ground before the cold spell such as accessions 44TN00047, 44TN00041, and 44TN00005, and the other group failed to produce enough vegetative cover on ground such as some accessions of annual medics, Onobrychis, and Trifolium.

This study was conducted as RCBD with four replications in Kkhorramabad agriculture garden. In order to the species of five grze crops Grasspea, Alfalfa, Sainfoin, Bitter vetch and Common vetch.The results showed that the species of Lathyrus sativus, Vicia spp and Vicia ervillia had the highest but the species of Medicago sativa and Onobrychis vicifollia had the lowest. Lathyrus had maximum wet and dry matter yield, plant height, stem and leaf dry matter, and absorbed PAR (22130kg/ha, 3991kg/ha, 70/63cm, 2028kg/ha, 1962kg/ha, and 96/91% respectively), but sainfoin had minimum of them (1836kg/ha, 506/4kg/ha, 24/08cm, 241/9kg/ha, 264/6kg/ha, and64/89%respe ctively).Wet matter yield had significant positive correlation (α=0/01) with dry matter yield, stem and leaf dry matter, PAR absorbtion and plant height.According to this results Lathyrus is recommended for this region.

It is essential to have integrated information on the energy exchange of forage crops in order to allow comparisons of their energy consumption patterns. Thus the aims of this study are examination of the energy consumption pattern, estimation of the amount of produced CO2eq. and modeling between the yield and energy inputs in three forage crops. These forage crops that are fed to dairy cows were wheat straw, maize silage and alfalfa. The total amount of energy inputs in fields of wheat (and its straw), silage corn and alfalfa were calculated as: 32077. 85, 93049. 87 and 30208. 04 MJ ha-1 respectively. The amount of produced CO2eq. in these three crops were estimated to be 2704. 67, 5861. 79 and 5538 respectively. The value of energy ratio in two crops of wheat and alfalfa were computed as 2. 69 and 2. 18 while in the silage crop due to higher amount of output energy rather than input energy was calculated less than one. Also, the adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system was used for modeling the relation of the yield of these forage crops and the amount of energy inputs. For estimation of the model for wheat straw, the model with three 'gaussmf' memberships function for each input variables was the best among the other models. Also, the best model for maize silage and alfalfa were 'pimf' for tow memberships function and 'trapmf' for three memberships function, respectively.

Cover crops are considered as a support for sustainable cropping system. Hence, a field study was conducted to examine the effects of cover crops, tillage systems in combination with different nitrogen levels on certain soil properties and sorghum forage yield (cv. KFS3), at Research Farm University of Tehran, Karaj, during 2004-2005 growing season. Factorial-spilt plot arrangement based on randomized complete blocks design with three replications was applied. A combinations of tillage systems including reduced and conventional with nitrogen rates of 0, 75 and 150 kg ha-1 were assigned to whole plots with rye (Secale cereale) and hairy vetch (Vicia villosa) constituted the subplots. Effect of cover crop prior to sorghum planting was significant on soil bulk density, nitrogen and soil pH, but these effects were not significant on soil organic matter. The effect of tillage systems was only significant on soil pH after harvesting forage sorghum. Soil pH was lower in reduced tillage than conventional tillage. Tillage systems had no significant effect on yield of forage sorghum, but cover crops and nitrogen rates treatments significantly affected forage sorghum. The highest forage yields were obtained from rye and vetch cover crops along with 150 kg N ha-1.

Background and Objective: Today, due to high prices and destructive effects of uncontrolled use of chemical fertilizers on the environment and the quantity and quality of agricultural products, use of sulfur as a micro element and also acidifying agent in soil is too important and necessary. Material and Methodology: In order to evaluate and compare the effect of sulfur on yield and the ability to micro elements absorption with oilseed safflower, canola, corn and fodder plants sorghum and pigweed in a calcareous soil a factorial experiment was conducted based on randomized complete blocks design with three replications. The experimental factors were contain sulfur fertilizer in two levels (without application and consumed 500 kilograms per hectare). Findings: Results showed that the use of sulfur caused a significant increase in wet and dry weight in all plant species and the maximum increase was observed in corn and sorghum species. The use of sulfur causes significant increase absorption of iron and zinc in roots and shoots of all species of plant. Discussion and Conclusion: Among the oilseeds, the effect of sulfur application on corn and canola was higher than safflower and the sorghum forage had better performance than the pigweed.