Determination of Salsola vermicolata and Suaeda fruticosa Forage Quality of Sistan Region at Different Phenological Stages

Phenology is a broad science topic of Ecology. Study of phenology for regulating of animal grazing programs and determining of palatability and nutritive value of plant species at different stages of vital in range is important. This study was carried out to determine the chemical composition and nutritive value of Salsola vermicolata and Suaeda fruticosa that are halophyte plants, in three phenological stages (vegetative, flowering and seeding) were studied. After collecting the plants and mills, chemical composition were determined by standard method, organic matter digestibility (OMD) and metabolizable energy (ME) by in vitro gas production method. Results indicated there are significant changes in chemical composition of plants in different phenological stages (P<0.05). With advancing of growth stage, the crude protein (CP), ME and OMD contents and the rate of cell fibers was increased. The highest gas production volume in 96 hours, OMD and decreated ME had related to Salsola vermicolata in vegetative stage (P<0.05). Forage quality of Salsola vermicolata in vegetative stage was the best nutritive value in compare with other phonological stages of Salsola vermicolata and different phonological stages of Suaeda fruticosa. Results showed that progress of growth stage and increase of cell wall fractions contents is caused significant decrease in nutritive value. So, it is recommended Salsola vermicolata can be fed for animal in vegetative stage which has more optimum nutritive value.