Comparing Seed Yield of Salsola rigida, Kochia prostrataAnd Eurotia ceratoidesUnder RainfedAndIrrigation Regimes, In Sharak-Imam Neyshabur Seed Production Station

It is very difficult to provide water for irrigating plants in arid areas. However, range and desert plants are usually drought tolerant and may need no additional water for growth. Therefore, determining the best cultivation method (irrigation or rainfed) in terms of seed production economy is an important issue for seed producers. This research was aimed to compare the seed yield of three rangeland shrubs, Salsola rigida, Kochia prostrata and Eurotia ceratoides under rainfed and irrigation regimes, at the Seed Production Station of Sharak-Imam Neyshabur. For sampling, five belt transects (30 m length and 50 cm width) were randomly established, along which the number of plants established were counted for each species. Forage production was estimated by cut-and-weight method. The highest seed yield was recorded for Salsola under irrigation (1074 kg/ha) and the lowest for Eurotia under rainfed cultivation (209 kg/ha). Irrigation regime increased plant density, seed yield, seed number, and forage yield in Eurotia; plant density and forage yield in Kochia, and plant density in Salsola. Accordingly, for seed production in Shahrak Imam, we suggest sowing Eurotia under irrigation, but Kochia and Salsola need no watering after the initial establishment.