Investigating Phenology and the Factors Affecting its Initiationin the Medicinal Plantof Ajugachamaecistus in Different Yearsin the Semi-Steppe Rangelands of KordanAlborz

For timely utilization and achieving acceptable yield in each plant, determining the entry/exit time of the livestock, collecting the seed, and identifying the nutritional value of plant species are essential. These enable us to record and study the emergence of the biological phenomena is each plant, particularly the medicinal ones. In this study, different stages of the phenology of Ajugachamaecistuswere investigated in order to develop proper management programs for the study area and similar regions. This study was carried out in the semi-steppe rangelands of Kordanin Alborz province for threeyears (2008- 2010). Ten bases were selected from the plant species under study and the date of the vegetative and reproductive stages of the plant including: the vegetation and growth, flowering, seed maturation, and drying of the plant was recorded in specific forms during the growth season in 15-day intervals for three years. Additionally, the meteorological data and information including the average monthly temperature and the monthly precipitation related to each four-year under study were collected from the meteorological station closest to the region. On the basis of this data, the dry-period curve was drawn separately for each year from 2008 to 2010 to compare the phenology stages of the species under study. The results showed that considering the climatic conditions of the region, especially the environmental temperature (degree-day), this species begins its growth at different times in different years.