Volume 18, Issue 4 (1-2025)
مرتع 2025, 18(4): 599-616 |
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Faraji-Hajibaba F, Sheidai-Karkaj E, Mofidi-Chelan M. The Role of Using Vermicompost in Seed Ball Composition on the Growth of Medicago scutellata (L.) Mill. and Onobrychis viciifolia Scop. Seeds. مرتع 2025; 18 (4) :599-616
URL: http://rangelandsrm.ir/article-1-1291-en.html
URL: http://rangelandsrm.ir/article-1-1291-en.html
Department of Rangeland and Watershed Management, Faculty of Natural Resources, Urmia University, Urmia
Abstract: (658 Views)
Background and objectives: Many of the country's rangelands are being degraded due to improper exploitation and environmental pressures. Restoring the efficiency of these ecosystems requires management and improvement operations. In severely degraded rangelands, artificial restoration operations, including the introduction of plants through seeding, are effective methods for improving rangeland conditions. Traditional seed introduction methods often fail due to harsh environmental conditions. Seed coating or pelleting, which involves covering seeds with protective materials, minimizes negative environmental effects and increases plant establishment. This study investigated the growth and germination success of Medicago scutellata and Onobrychis viciifolia using the seed pellet method to apply this approach on a large scale for rangeland restoration.
Methodology: Pellets were prepared for seeds of Medicago scutellata and Onobrychis viciifolia by adding vermicompost to clay. Seed pellets without fertilizer were also prepared using clay alone. Fifteen seed pellets were prepared for each treatment combination, including alfalfa seed pellet treatments with and without fertilizer and spruce seed pellet treatments with and without fertilizer. The pellets were planted in designated plots at the research site of Urmia University in late May, and irrigation was performed as necessary. The number of grown pellets and seeds in each pellet were recorded continuously from the start of growth. After reaching maximum growth, seedling height, leaf length, and leaf width were measured. All data were analyzed using two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with seed type and fertilizer as factors. Means were compared using the Tukey test.
Results: The results showed that in all treatments, the morphological growth of Onobrychis viciifolia was higher than that of Medicago scutellata. Onobrychis viciifolia had a greater number of seed balls grown (12.33 balls), a higher number of seeds per ball (1.87 seeds/ball), and greater plant height (10.42 cm) compared to Medicago scutellata, which had 3.16 balls, 0.4 seeds per ball, and 3.98 cm, respectively. This success could be due to the specific growth characteristics of Onobrychis viciifolia. Pellets with vermicompost fertilizer had lower leaf length and width growth rates (0.69 cm and 0.38 cm) compared to seed pellets without fertilizer (1.04 cm and 0.58 cm).
Conclusion: Vermicompost fertilizer, due to its high nutrient concentration, inhibited seed germination and reduced plant vegetative growth when added to seed pellets, especially at the beginning of growth. However, adding very small amounts of a nutrient or a safe nutrient to the seed pellet clay may provide better results. Given the high growth potential of Onobrychis viciifolia compared to Medicago scutellata, Onobrychis viciifolia should be used in rangeland restoration projects through seed pellet preparation.
Methodology: Pellets were prepared for seeds of Medicago scutellata and Onobrychis viciifolia by adding vermicompost to clay. Seed pellets without fertilizer were also prepared using clay alone. Fifteen seed pellets were prepared for each treatment combination, including alfalfa seed pellet treatments with and without fertilizer and spruce seed pellet treatments with and without fertilizer. The pellets were planted in designated plots at the research site of Urmia University in late May, and irrigation was performed as necessary. The number of grown pellets and seeds in each pellet were recorded continuously from the start of growth. After reaching maximum growth, seedling height, leaf length, and leaf width were measured. All data were analyzed using two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with seed type and fertilizer as factors. Means were compared using the Tukey test.
Results: The results showed that in all treatments, the morphological growth of Onobrychis viciifolia was higher than that of Medicago scutellata. Onobrychis viciifolia had a greater number of seed balls grown (12.33 balls), a higher number of seeds per ball (1.87 seeds/ball), and greater plant height (10.42 cm) compared to Medicago scutellata, which had 3.16 balls, 0.4 seeds per ball, and 3.98 cm, respectively. This success could be due to the specific growth characteristics of Onobrychis viciifolia. Pellets with vermicompost fertilizer had lower leaf length and width growth rates (0.69 cm and 0.38 cm) compared to seed pellets without fertilizer (1.04 cm and 0.58 cm).
Conclusion: Vermicompost fertilizer, due to its high nutrient concentration, inhibited seed germination and reduced plant vegetative growth when added to seed pellets, especially at the beginning of growth. However, adding very small amounts of a nutrient or a safe nutrient to the seed pellet clay may provide better results. Given the high growth potential of Onobrychis viciifolia compared to Medicago scutellata, Onobrychis viciifolia should be used in rangeland restoration projects through seed pellet preparation.
Keywords: Seed cover, plant nutrition, growth restriction, leaf, plant height, rangeland restoration, fertilizer.
Type of Study: Applicable |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2024/10/18 | Accepted: 2025/02/6 | Published: 2025/01/29
Received: 2024/10/18 | Accepted: 2025/02/6 | Published: 2025/01/29
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