Nutritional Value of Five Rangeland Plants Using Gas Production Technique

This investigation was conducted to determine the chemical composition and nutritional value of five plant species commonly used as ruminant feeds namely: Artemisia herba-alba, Acer monspessulanum, Amygdalus lycoides, Amygdalus scoparia, and Atriplex leucoclada. After the collecting samples, the chemical compositions of plants included dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), ash (CA), cell wall (NDF), and non-lignin cell wall (ADF) were determined according to standard methods. For degradation testing, the nylon bag technique was applied using three native Sistani fistula calves. Organic matter digestibility (OMD) and metabolisable energy (ME) were determined through the gas production technique. The CP value ranged from 5.30 (Amygdalus scoparia) to 11.72% (Atriplex leucoclada) while NDF value ranged from 52.62 (Amygdalus lycoides) to 69.05% (Amygdalus scoparia). The range of OMD, DOMD, and ME was from 36.67 to 53.27%, 34.67 to 49.11%, and 5.57 to 8.08 (MJ/kg), respectively. The results showed a positive correlation between cell wall composition and dry matter digestibility in plant species. The nutritional value of Amygdalus lycoides, Atriplex leucoclada, Acer monspessulanum, and Artemisia herba-alba was acceptable composition and digestibility.

Effect of shrub encroachment on their sub-canopy soil and vegetation properties

Shrub encroachment (SE) has been occurring and studied worldwide over the last century. What remains to be investigated is how soil and vegetation characteristics vary under canopy of different species of shrubs for restoration goals. Thus, this study aimed to compare the effect of three shrub species (Amygdalus scoparia, Ebenus stellata, and Daphne mezereum) on soil and vegetation characteristics under their canopies in semiarid rangelands in Iran for restoration purposes of degraded areas. Fifteen sites were randomly selected in such three shrub species which were found close to each other in each site. Soil and vegetation characteristics were measured under the three shrubs, comparing with outside the shrub canopies (control). One-way ANOVA and non-metric dimensional scaling were used to clarify the differences of the effects of different shrub species on sub-canopy soil and plants. The results indicated that the effect of different species of shrubs on soil properties was not equal, more pronounced by A. scoparia. Similarly, the highest value of herbaceous Shannon-Wiener diversity index was recorded under A. scoparia (2.07) as compared with D. mezerum (1.76), E. stellata (1.41). The highest and lowest values of Menhinick richness index were observed under A. scoparia (3.43) and E. stellata (1.46), respectively. Compared with two other shrubs, a taller canopy in A. scoparia (3.50m vs. 2.60m and 1.83m) probably led to greater litter input by the shrub. Different effects of different species of shrubs on sub-canopy soil and vegetation should be considered in the restoration projects of degraded semiarid rangelands.