Evaluation of characteristics forage in different Kochia (Kochia scoparia) ecotypes in tow salinity levels irrigation

Production of halophyte plants with saline water and soil and feeding them to livestock is one of the most sustainable methods of conservation in desert ecosystem regions. Kochia is a high salt resistant plant that can widely use as forage for livestock in arid ecosystems with lack of appropriate water and soil resources. In order to investigate potential of forage production of five different kochia ecotypes in response to different levels of salinity, an experiment was performed in a split plot based on randomized complete block design with three replications. Saline waters (5.2, 16.5 dS m-1) and five kochia ecotypes (Birgand, Urmia, Borojerd, Esfahan and Sabzevar) were allocated as main and sub plots, respectively. Result showed that salinity stress and ecotypes did not significantly imposed significant effect on all traits, except dry matter yield. In the highest level of salinity, dry and fresh forage yield increased 4.5% and 2.6%, respectively. In conclusion, kochia represent suitable characteristics including spatial distribution, high leaf to stem ratio digestibility dry matter, organic digestibility, digestive value and high capacity of biomass production to use as fodder crop in harsh environmental conditions.