The Role of Carthamus oxyacantha M.B. in Opportunistic Strategy in Using Rangeland

The opportunistic tacktik is based on the use of annual plants to feed the livestoke. These low environmental demanding species grow abundantly due to soil seed bank richness. This research is aimed at studying the autecology and forage quality of wild safflower (Carthamus oxyacantha M.B.) as increasing plant and invasive plant at three phenological stages in Zarrindasht rangeland’s ecosystem. Soil profiles depth were different proportional to the effective depth of the roots. Then, samples were taken to the laboratory to measure physical and chemical analyses. Furthermore, the germination percentage was tested under different temperature treatment namely 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30ºC using a completely randomized design. The forage quality was focused on CP, DMD, ADF, ME, EE and Ash. Duncan test and SAS software were used or comparison of the averages and data analysis respectively. The results showed that this plant grows up on clay-loam soils, acidity of 7.9, electrical conductivity of 1.1 ds/m, 0.88% organic matter, 0.26% nitrogen. Germination treatments showed that the best performance occurs at 15 and 20ºC. The results demonstrated that as the age of the plants increases the forage quality of is reduced. It seems that if the plant harvests at the proper growth stage, it could be used in the pasture as a nutritional supplement in arid and semi-arid regions. During critical periods of forage deficiency cropping and keeping in the storage as traditional ranchers now realize and do it, could help the situation. looking at the concept of plant succession, the species might be a pioneer plant.  So once more this issue emphasizes on range management with the ecological viewpoint as science and art to balance and utilize rangeland ecosystems.