Range plants adaptation studies at steppic region of Mashhad.

The experiment was conducted in the place of natural resources research center, in Mashhad, with average precipitation of 255 mm. The soil texture was silty- loam with EC equal 2.7 deci simens per meter and PH equal 7.6. The amount of gypsum in Soil, was %22. In order to determine and introduction of permanent high quality plant species, number of 24 species were selected, that could be adapted for rangelands improvement in Mashhad plain. Each species was planted on 30 square meters, and the length of each line was 5 meter. Number 20-60 plant was investigated of each species. Row distance for perennial grasses were 0.5* 0.5 meter and shrubs 0.5*1 meter. This experiment was done during 2000-2007 at the second stage. Plant height, Establishment percent, diameter of cover, vegetative and reproductive stages, vigor and other general plant properties were measured each year during three last years. With attention to last year drought, Results showed that six species of them were succesful. Two species were grasses and four species were shrubs. In the end of the study, Kochia protrata, Eurotia ceratioides and Salsola orientalis have had more than 70 percent of viability. Agropyrum elongatum and Sanguisorba minor with 30 percent; and Onobrychis chorassanica and Agropyrum cristatum with 34 and 10 percent respectively. However, during 4 years research, at the second stage, 17 of species were omitted gradually, and 7 species showed adaptability and stabilized in this experiment. Consider that, fall species have had more diameter of cover and upper height, as compared to spring species; that expected, forage productions of them to be high. However, study of vegetation types of Mashhad, showed that shrubs are adaptable compared with grasses and covered 60 percent of these areas. The group of permanent grass plants, had only 2.7 percent canopy cover on mountainous areas.