Study on quantity and quality changes of alfalfa (Medicago sativa cv. Hamedani) under application of different rates of seaweed and humic acid

This study was laid out in order to investigate the effect of foliar application of humic acid and seaweed on yield and quality of alfalfa (cv. Hamedani) forage in Hamadan region at 2016.This experiment was conducted as a factorial arrengment based on randomized complete block design with three replications. Treatments were humic acid in concentrations of (0, 1, 2.5 and 5 L.ha-1) and seaweed extract in four levels (0, 250, 500 and 1000 g.ha-1).The results showed that the effects of seaweed and humic acid were significant on plant hight, number of leaf per plant, number of stem per surface unit, wet and dry foriage yield and percentage of crud protein and soluablesugars.Also the interaction effect of humic acid and seaweed was significant on plant hight, number of leaf per plant and soluable sugar percent only.The data comparison means shows that with increasing of seaweed and humic acid concentration the plant height was increased.The highest number of stem per surface unit was obtained in 1 kg.ha-1 seaweed treatment. Foliar application of 5 kg.ha-1humic acid increased number of stem per surface unit as 17 percent compared to control treatment.Dry and wet foriage yield increased significantly by foliar application of humic acid and seaweed.Maximum wet foriage yield (30 ton.ha-1) was obtained in 1000 g.ha-1 seaweed that increasd as 16% compared to control. Maximum and minimum wet foriage yield (29.79 and 23.99 t.ha-1) was related to application of 2.5 kg.ha-1humic acid and control treatments respectively.The maximum crud protein (12.23%) was obtained in 1000 g.ha-1 seaweed and 5 L.ha-1humic acid treatments. Also foliar application of humic acid and seaweed increased soluable sugars compared to control treatment. In final, the present resulta shows that foliar application of humic acid and seaweed increased quantity yield and quality of alfalfa in Hamedan region.