Autecology of Melica persica Kunth. in Khorasan region

Melica persica is a perennial grass from Poaceae family with a partly wide adaptability which makes it an important range plant species, especially for soil conservation. It is native to Iran and mostly grows in Irano-Torani and Hirkani regions. To study autecology of Melica persica, its habitats in Khorasan region were identified and habitat characteristics including climate, topography and soil were investigated in several sites. Afterwards, regeneration, phenology, density, canopy cover, root system and chemical compositon of forage were also studied. The results indicated that distribution of M. persica was partly wide from north to south of khorasan region and especially in rocky foothills (altitude 900-2900 m). It was laso seen in all geographic aspects and a slope of 12-89 percent. M. persica habitats are mainly located in 3 climates of very cold semi-arid, very cold mediterranean and cold semi-arid. Mean annual temperature and precipitation of M. persica habitats differ from 5-15 degrees centigrade and 125-600 mm, respectively. This plant prefers well-drainaged soils of gravelly loam, gravelly silty loam and gravelly sandy loam texture. Optimal pH and EC are 7 to 8 and 0.5-1.5 ds/m respectively. Rocky soils and specially sheil, volcanic and lime stones are the main bed for its establishment. Vegetative growth of this plant starts from mid March and continues to mid May. Depending on altitude, heading stage starts from early May to late May. During late May to early June seeds are at milk stage and seed dissemination happens 20 days later. Results also showed that the effect of seed storage period on seed viability was non-significant. Plant natural regeneration is mainly via seed. Forage chemical composition analysis showed a protein of 21.6 and 8.1 % in vegetative and flowering stages respectively.