Evaluation of Forage Quantity and Quality in Domestic Populations of Hairy Vetch (Vicia villosa L), Vetch (Vicia sativa L.) and Caspian Vetch (Vicia hyrcanica) under Rainfed Condition

In order to evaluate forage quantity and quality in 15 domestic population of vetch, a field experiment was carried out based on randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications at the faculty of Agriculture, University of Maragheh in 2015. The species included domestic populations of Vicia sativa L. (2, 7, 29, 30, 16, 15, 10, 36, 33 and 23), Vicia hyrcanica (24 and 22) and Vicia villosa L. (12, 28 and 35). The results showed that the highest (530.8 g.m-2) and lowest (91.16 g.m-2) dry forage yield were obtained in the 30 and 36, respectively. Also, the highest seed yield (43.43 g.m-2) was related to population 28. In addition, the highest total digestible nutrients (TDN), dry matter intake (DMI), digestible dry matter (DDM), relative feed value (RFV), net energy of lactation (NEL) and metabolisable energy (MED) was achieved in 28 (Vicia villosa L.) population. In addition to, the lowest content of acid detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) was obtained in the 28 and 30, respectively. The cluster analysis categorized the quantitative and qualitative traits of the populations into three groups. So that, in terms of the quantitative and qualitative, the 30 and 28 populations were assigned to one group, respectively. Generally, based on quantitative and qualitative traits, the 28 (Vicia villosa L.) and 30 (Vicia sativa L.) were recommended as suitable species for cultivation in rainfed conditions.