The effect of different nutritional systems, harvest management and post harvest period on hard-seed breakdown trend in annual medic (Medicago scutellata cv. Robinson)

In ley-farming variation system hard-seed is the major ecological trait of annual medic to guaranty the soil seed bank reserve. The trend of hard-seed breakdown is affected by environmental and managerial factors. In order to study, the effect of different nutritional systems, post harvest period and harvest management on hard seed breakdown trend in the annual medic, this experiment was conducted by split plots in time based on complete randomized block design with three replications in two locations (Sararoud dry Agricultural Research Institute and Mahidasht Agricultural Research Stations, Kermanshah) in dry farming system during 2008 and 2009 growing seasons. The results indicated that the highest hard-seed breakdown was periphery 13% in the Sararoud Research Station. After 8 months of post harvest period the mean of hard-seed breakdown reached to 14% in two locations. Also in harvest and non-harvest treatments forage the average hard-seed breakdown were 12.2 and 12.7 percents, respectively.