Evaluation of structural and functional traits of Acssessions of rangeland species Agropyron pectiniforme and Elymus hispidus var hispidus in rainfed conditions in Mazandaran province

Agropyron pectiniforme and Elymus hispidus var hispidus are important and palatable species in Mazandaran province rangelands. This study aimed to select top populations for forage production and use them in rangeland breeding and rehabilitation programs. Seeds of native populations of Agropyron pectiniforme and Elymus hispidus var. Hispidus was planted in reticulated plastic trays and operated after emergence for a short period. In early spring, in the area of Poshtkuh research station in the southeastern altitude of Sari, were planted on two lines (repetitions) with a length of 20 meters so that 40 plants of each accession were placed on the planting line. Their distance on planting rows was 0.50 m, and the distance between the lines was considered one meter. The experiment was conducted during the years 2011-2015. In the first and second year, no plant data were recorded because of plant establishment. Evaluation criteria for plant selection were plant height at the time of cluster emergence, canopy cover, survival rate, forage production and seed production. Different phenological stages including vegetative stage, flowering, seed formation and fall regrowth were recorded in 7-10 days. The obtained data were statistically analyzed in SPSS16 software. The results of combined analysis of variance of data related to the performance of the evaluated factors showed that there was a significant difference at the (p < /em><0.01) between the populations of the studied species in terms of forage production yield, longitudinal growth, canopy cover, survival percentage, seedling strength, and seed production. There was no significant difference between different years in terms of the studied factors. There is a difference between some populations of the studied species in terms of phenological stages and these populations; the phenological stages have a delay of about seven days. Therefore, to produce and strengthen forage vegetation, the seeds of these populations can be used in the mountain rangelands of Mazandaran province.