Investigation of the effect of season and sowing method on some structural and yield characteristics of sainfoin (Onobrychis altissima Grossh.) (Case study: Poshtkooh station, Sari, Mazandaran)

In the program of increasing forage production, it is necessary to collect information about the establishment of forage plants. In this regard, the native population's seeds of sainfoin (Onobrychis altissima.) were collected to study different rangeland cultivation methods from the rangeland areas of Baladeh Noor watershed in Mazandaran province in 2013 and at the research station of Poshtkooh with an average 320 mm of rainfall in a cold semi-arid climate. The cultivation were in two forms: seeding and seed scattering treatments, which were performed on spring and fall sowing in the form of split plots based on the randomized complete block design in three replications. The main treatment of the experiment was date of rangeland cultivation and the sub-plot was (seeding and seed scattering). Factors studied included plant height, canopy cover, seed production, plant production, and establishment percentage. The results show a significant difference between sowing and in spring and fall for the studied factors (plant height, canopy, production, seed and species production. Seeding method in fall had the highest values of the studied factors. Therefore, it is possible to improve the rangelands of similar climatic zones with sainfoin by sowing to increase forage production and direct grazing.