Effect of Nitrogen Fertilizer Amount on Some Fodder Characteristics and Performance of Salicornia persica Akhani

Fodder production for livestock using highly saline soil and waters is a part of halo-culture projects. So, the present study aimed to elucidate the effect of nitrogen fertilizer amount on some fodder characteristics and performance of salicornia (Salicornia persica Akhani) irrigated with the Persian Gulf seawater with the electrical conductivity of 64.5 dSm-1. A field experiment with four levels of urea fertilizer including zero, 100, 150, and 200 kg ha-1 in the form of randomized complete block design with three replications was carried out at seashore of Delwar City, Bushehr Province, in 2017. The results showed that fodder production and fertilizer application had a linear and increasing relationship. As the rate of urea fertilizer increased (100, 150, and 200 kg ha-1), the dry fodder production rose by 96.7%, 144.5%, and 188.4%, respectively, compared with the control treatment. In addition, results showed that urea application increased plant height, spike length, spike diameter and spike weight. Moreover, application of urea fertilizer at a rate of 200 kg ha-1 increased water use efficiency by three times compared to the control. Hence, to optimize the quantity of fodder production from Salicornia and water use efficiency, urea application at a rate of 200 kg ha-1 is recommended. It is suggested to determine the effect of saline water on soil in future research