Nutritional Value of a holophyte species, Halostachys caspica in three Different Phonological Stages and three Different Sites

This research was performed to determine the nutritional value of a halophyte species, Halostachys caspica in three different phonological stages including primary growth, flowering and seed ripening in three different sites i.e, Qom, Yazd and Urmia provinces Plant sampling was completely randomized and crude protein, ether extract, water percentage, acid detergent fiber, ash, dry matter digestibility and metabolism energy were measured by standard methods. Data analysis was done using SPSS software in a factorial design. According to the results, interaction effects of growth stages and different ecological sites showed a significant difference for most of the measured factors and they did not follow a regular trend. The results indicated that H. caspica had the highest forage quality in flowering (second stage) while with increase of plant age, crude fiber and ash increased in all the three studied sites. Growing in sever ecological conditions and having high forage quality, H. caspica may be considered for sustainable development plan in saline regions.