The effect of planting date on forage quality of different cultivars of clover

In order to evaluate the effect of planting date on forage quality and quantity yield in different cultivars of clover, an experiment was conducted in research farm in preparation of seed and plant improvement of Karaj in 2014-2015. This experiment was conducted in split plots in a randomized complete block with three replications and twelve treatments. Main factor includes planting date in three levels (22 July, 15 August and 10 September) and sub-factor contains four clover cultivars (mono cut persian clover, multi cut persian clover, berseem clover and laki clover). The studied characteristics include qualitative properties such as a dry matter percentage, crude protein percentage, acid detergent fiber, calcium, phosphorus content, fructose and glucose content. Results showed that multi cut persian clover had the most protein percentage (17.88) and dry matter percentage (48.30) and the minimum acid detergent fiber (29.86). Berseem clover and multi cut persian clover had the highest content of phosphorus in all planting dates. Multi cut persian clover had the most protein and the least fiber in all three dates.