Introduction and Objective: Animal nutritionists are looking for alternative compounds with the ability to improve the fermentation process. Probiotics and medicinal plants can be mentioned among these alternative compounds. Yarrow and ginger can be mentioned among medicinal plants that have antimicrobial properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of yarrow and ginger powder on the digestibility and gas production of SAINFOIN and alfalfa HAY in laboratory conditions. Material and Methods: For this purpose, the in vitro digestibility of SAINFOIN and alfalfa HAY and a mixture of 50% alfalfa and 50% SAINFOIN were measured due to the use of yarrow and ginger powder by Tilley and Terry's modified Holden method. So that different levels of yarrow and ginger powder at three levels of zero, 1.5 and 3% were added to 100 ml syringes containing alfalfa, SAINFOIN, and a mixture of alfalfa and SAINFOIN, and the amount of gas produced by incubating the syringes at times 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours of measurement and the resulting data were analyzed in a completely randomized design. Results: The results showed that the addition of 3% of ginger and Yarrow powder in SAINFOIN HAY increased the digestibility of dry matter from 55.71 to 68.76 and 74.65% (P=0.0458), the digestibility of organic matter in dry matter from 52.62 to 64.95 and 62.09 percent (P=0.0468) and metabolizable energy increased from 8.42 to 10.39 and 9.93 MJ kg-1 DM (P=0.0489) by Holden's method, respectively. While the use of ginger and yarrow powder did not have a significant effect on the digestibility of organic matter, the digestibility of organic matter in dry matter and metabolizable energy of alfalfa and alfalfa- SAINFOIN mixture. The results related to the digestibility according to the McNiven method showed that the addition of 1.5 and 3% of yarrow and ginger powder in SAINFOIN and alfalfa HAY could reduce the amount of gas production at times 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 hours of incubation. However, the addition of yarrow and ginger powder to alfalfa- SAINFOIN mixture did not have a significant effect on the amount of gas produced. The results of the gas test method showed that the addition of 1.5% and 3% of yarrow and ginger in SAINFOIN and alfalfa HAY reduced the digestibility of organic matter, total short chain fatty acids and metabolizable energy compared to the control group. Among these, 3% of ginger has the most significant reducing effect on the digestibility of organic matter from 67.80 to 50.14 and 45.99% (P=0.0092), total short chain fatty acids from 1.77 to 0.76 and 0.66 milli moles (p=0.0183) and metabolizable energy from 9.88 to 7.47 and 6.79 MJ kg-1 DM (P=0.0167) respectively in SAINFOIN HAY. Also, this similar decreasing trend continued in alfalfa HAY for the nutritional parameters of the gas test. A mixture of alfalfa and SAINFOIN was not affected by the addition of different levels of yarrow and ginger. Conclusion: It is concluded that the addition of 1.5 and 3% levels of yarrow and ginger powder in SAINFOIN and alfalfa HAY could not improve the amount of gas production.

Effects of Condensed Tannins (CT) on crude protein availability in SAINFOIN HAY was investigated according to most popular ruminant feeding systems. Different treatments including Polyethylene Glycol (6000 MW), sodium hydroxide, sodium bicarbonate, potassium permanganate, wood ash, water and urea, were applied for deactivation of CT Crude protein fractioning was determined using nylon bag technique,  AFRC and CNCPS systems. Total phenolic compounds, total tannin and condensed tannin content of control HAY were 39.4, 38.5 and 21.3 g/kg DM, respectively. PEG and water treatments resulted in higher CT deactivation values as compared with other treatments. Ruminal crude protein degradability, effective degradability and metabolizable protein content, in SAINFOIN HAY, significantly increased with tannin deactivation. Condensed tannin deactivation, caused the reduction of C fraction in CNCPS while increasing crude protein availability. It can be concluded that deactivation of condensed tannins could lead to an increase in crude protein availability in SAINFOIN HAY. Nonetheless PEG, water and wood ash are the most effective in increasing nitrogen availability. No chemicals are employed in water treatment, it benefits from economic justification and ease of use, and is finally concluded as a low cost practical procedure for the processing of SAINFOIN on the farm.

This experiment was carried out to study the effect of deactivation of SAINFOIN phenolic compounds using PEG (6000) and water on SAINFOIN digestibility, rumen and blood parameters of Holstein cows fed with SAINFOIN.This trial designed using 3 nonlactating ruminally cannulated multiparous Holstein cows, in balanced changeover design consisted of 3 diet and 3 periods of 17 days (10 days for adaptation and 7 days for sample collection). Extractable tannin content of control forage was 21.3 (g/kg DM).Both of treatments were able to decrease it more than 90 percent. Treatments resulted in increased digestibility of organic matter, crude protein, forage cell wall and metabolisable energy of SAINFOIN (P<0.05), but no effects have been found on total concentrations and molar proportions of rumen volatile fatty acids. Tannin deactivation can cause elevation of ruminal ammonia nitrogen concentration (P<0.05), but blood urea, glucose and creatinine concentrations were not affected. Tannin deactivation increased DM degradability of SAINFOIN in PEG treated group (P<0.05).We concluded that PEG and water treatments diminished phenolic compound in SAINFOIN and could elevation of nutrient availability, especially in the case of nitrogen. Water treatment was practical method for processing of SAINFOIN in Iran and can be used on the farm.

SAINFOIN (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop. ), one of the main perennial legumes forages, is cultivated in both dry land farming and irrigated area for grazing and HAY production for feeding of livestock. It is a perennial legume widely adapted to environmental conditions and has been successfully used as a pasture and HAY forage. In order to evaluate and select the best ecotypes of SAINFOIN for a synthetic variety development program, a field experiment was conducted during 2011 to 2014 cropping seasons, in Tikmadash research station, East Azarbaijan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Tabriz, Iran. Quantitative and qualitative traits of 25 SAINFOIN ecotypes were evaluated. Analysis of variance showed no significant differences between the ecotypes for day's to 10% flowering, but for other quantitative traits such as plant height, shoot fresh and dry weight, leave fresh and dry weight, fresh and dry forage yield were significant. Crude protein, crude fiber and dry matter digestible were significantly different among the studied SAINFOIN ecotypes. Fresh and dry protein yield indices were instructed by multiplying rude protein by fresh and dry yield, respectively, and used as criteria for ecotype selection. Considering quantitative and qualitative traits, specially fresh and dry protein yield indices, four superior ecotypes were selected to be used in synthetic variety (Syn1) development.

Salintiy is an important environmental stress which restrict agricultural yield. The effect of salt (NaCl) was studied on germination and vegetative growth of two alfalfa (Australian line 2129 and Ghra-Youngeh, Iranian alfalfa) and one SAINFOIN from Golpaygan, Iran. The split-plots experimental design was used to carry out the main effect (genotypes) and salt levels as sub plots (0, 75, 125, 175 and 225 mM). There were two separate experiments, one for germination and the other at vegetative stage. Plants were establish in the pots at glass house. All pots were irrigated for 52 days with tap water. Then, they irrigated with 200 cm3 water containing the five levels of salt, for 49 days, and one time per week.The leaf water potential, shoot height, root length and shoot and root dry weight were recorded. At low levels of salinity (0, 75 and 125 mM), the Australian line 2129 had greater germination and vegetative growth than the Iranian alfalfa (Gharah-Youngeh) and SAINFOIN, whereas at high levels of salinity (175 and 225 mM) Gharah- Youngeh had greater germination and vegetative growth than the Australian alfalfa and SAINFOIN.Although the Golpayganian SAINFOIN had lower growth rate than the two alfalfa genotypes at all levels of salinity, but had lower leaf water potential. It means, SAINFOIN may have greater salt tolerance.

SAINFOIN with deep root, high level of drought tolerance, digestibility and lack of bloating is one of the important forage crops in Iran. The present study was designed to assess the 15 SAINFOIN landraces cultivating in east and west Azarbijan provinces in three plant densities (200, 400 and 600 plants/m2).The trial was carried out as factorial using complete block design with three replications during three years. There were significant genotypic differences for all of the studied characters in the first and third years of experiment except for leaf to stem ratio which was not significant in the third year. Whereas in the second year, significant differences among landraces were observed only for plant height, dry weight of 15 plants and dry forage yield per plant. Combined analysis of variance revealed significant differences among genotypes for all of the characters. Mean comparisons and ranking of landraces based on mean of all characters in each year and combined over three years, indicated that Osko and Arbat Osko landraces are the genotypes with high production potential. Particularly, the Osko landrace with high dry forage yield and some yield components showed significant differences with other landraces in all of the three years. Gharechaman landrace in spite of having low yield as compared to the two above mentioned landraces, can be used as a valuable genetic resource in breeding programs due to high forage quality.

Introduction: In recent decades, erosion control, especially in rural pastures, has become one of the most important factors in retaining natural resources and increasing production. Increasing plant diversity increases the yield of forage, improves the sustainability of yield and reduces nutrient loss in the soil (Berendse et al, 2015). Diverse grasslands have more productive power. Some researchers point out that production and sustainability of ecosystems are not necessarily dependent on diversity, but also on the presence of key species and functional species (Guretzky et al., 2005). One way to prevent erosion is to create vegetation (Zuazo et al., 2008). This investigation has been conducted in order to survey the effects of planting 4 pasture plants with compositions of 1, 2, 3 and 4 plants. Materials And Methods: This experiment was conducted in the year 1395 in the area near Lake Urumia. The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with 16 treatments in each replicate and a total of 48 test plots in three replications. The studied treatments were Arrhenatherum elatius, Agropyron trichophorum, Bromus inermis, Festuca arundinacea and combinations of two, three and four of these species. Measurements were taken in the second year of the experiment. Statistical analysis was performed using MSTAT-C software. Duncan's test was used at a 5% probability level to compare the means. Excel charts were used to draw graphs. Results And Discussion: Based on the results of this investigation, incorporating pasture plants in 3 and 4 compositions decreased erosion and runoff. Compositions with only 1 or 2 plants had less effect on erosion control. There were no significant differences between different plant compositions’ effect on HAY yield, but the overall treatment of adding new plants did increase HAY yield. All treatments of plant compositions affected the light interception rate by canopy. Based on results, the plantings increased the percentage of green area and the soil biological index, but decreased the contents of phosphorous, potash, and nitrogen and sodium. The highest nitrogen and phosphorus contents were observed in the 4*3*2*1 treatment and the highest potash was observed in the 3*2*1 and 4*2*1. The highest soil biological content was observed in the 4*3*2*1 treatment that was equivalent to a 73% increase in relation to biomass, canopy and soil nutrient. Similar results have been observed in the research of Idris et al. (2012) and Talaei et al. (2011). Conclusion: Considering the results, it seems that the planting of pasture plants, and especially the triaxial and quadruple planting of pasture plants, in addition to increasing the yield of fodder, also leads to good erosion control because of the improvements to soil characteristics.

This research was conducted to evaluate 30 SAINFOIN cultivars in terms of yield, agronomic and morphological traits under water stress condition, using different drought tolerannce indices. A randomized complete block design with three replications was employed during two years at Isfahan University of Technology Research Farm, Isfahan, Iran. Effect of cultivars were significant for all of the measured traits at p<0.01. Also, the interactions of cultivars by moisture environment were significant for number of days to 50% flowering; inflorescence length, fresh and dry matter yield and leaf to stem ratio, indicating that different genotypes had different responses to moisture environments. Among different drought tolerance and susceptibility indices STI, GMP and MP had high correlation coefficients with yield under stress and non stress conditions, indicating that these indices are more suitable as criterion for selection of drought-tolerant cultivars. According to the studied indices and principle component analysis, cultivars 16 (Bardsir), 21 (Fereydunshahr 2), 23 (Najafabad 2) and 27 (Borujerd) were found to be the most desirable ones and can be considered as drought tolerant genotypes for future studies.