Evaluation of existing plant species in nesary of Homand rangelands research station.

Evaluation of nine rangeland species with different accession, including Stipa capilata, Koeleria macrantha, Koeleria phleoides, Melica cupani, Melica jaquemontii, Stipa capensis , Elymus transhircanus , Elytrigia libanoticus and Festuca ovina was made at Homand-Abesard Rangeland Research station, in order to select the best accession in regard to related characteristics. The trial started in 2003 and ended in 2007. After soil preparation, each accession was planted on a 13m line, consisting of 25 seedlings. There was 75cm space between the lines. The required characteristics for the plant evaluation were as follows: Foliage production, canopy cover, height, seed yield, number of flowered stems, leaves density, plant freshness, Basal area and phenology. The data of variables were statistically analyzed annually. The species consisting of more than two accessions, were analyzed, using the univariate method, whereas the ones consisting of two or less accessions, were analyzed by the T- test method. The averages were compared, using the Duncan method. The result showed that there were significant differences between the species accessions in relation to their characteristics(P¡Ü 0,05), every year during the trial period( 2003- 2007). There were significant differences between the whole characteristics of Festuca ovina and Elytrigia libanoticus and Stipa capilata the whole characteristics (except leav density). the accession 10670 of Festuca ovina, accession 10633 of Elytrigia libanoticus and accession 10795 of Stipa capilata were greater than the other accessions in regard to most characteristics and the whole characteristics, except the basal area, at different years. In 2006 the averages of canopy cover, basal area and foliage production of Melica cupani, the averages of basal area and foliage production of Melica jaquemontii the averages of canopy cover and seed yield of stipa capensis, were the greatest. Overall, the average of leaves density. Canopy cover, basal area and foliage yield of Elymus transhircanus in ٢٠٠٥; and the averages of height, leaves density, number of stems. Canopy cover and seed yield 59 of Koeleria macrantha and Koeleria phleoides in 2007 were greater than the other years. There was obvious difference between the species in regard to their phenology. The species Festuca ovina, Koeleria macrantha, Koeleria phleoides and melica cupani had different growth periods(start and end date) at different years, based on climatical condition variations, particularly air temperature and soil moisture. The whole species had longer phenology period in wetter and cooler years, in coparison to wormer and drier years, but the accumulated temperatures required for the whole phonological processes of the species at different years, were computed more or less, similarly. The whole species during the trial period, started their growth end of Feb and maximum growth continued to end of Jul. The growth of most species started again in autumn, after about two months growth stop and synchronous to autumn rains.