Evaluation of physiological characteristics and forage quality of Persian clover (Trifolium resupinatum L.) under the different irrigation levels

Results and discussion The results show that the irrigation regime had a significant effect on all traits. Irrigation treatments at 80 and 60% of available water had the highest dry matter yield, and delaying irrigation until 40 and 20% caused a 19% and 36% significant decrease in this trait. Also, stress at the level of 20% caused a 27% decrease in fodder protein, a 10% increase in acid detergent fiber and neutral detergent fiber, and finally, an 16% reducing relative feed value. Evaluation of physiological traits in the first ten days of the beginning of water stress showed a continuous increase in leaf temperature from 30.5 to 34 ˚C, and 49, 50, and 15% decrease in photosynthesis rate, stomatal conductance, and SPAD index, respectively. It Also reduces the concentration of chlorophyll a and b 25 and 40 percent. The return of increased leaf temperature and reduced stomatal conductance due to the discharge of 80% moisture was fast to the initial level, but other traits slowly approached the value before the stress. It seems that returning to initial values at levels of 80 and 60 is easily possible for the plant, but with the increase in the intensity of stress, the damage of dehydration is slowly compensated. Conclusion The experiment results showed that the photosynthesis rate and other physiological traits of Persian clover significantly react to the soil's decreased available water. In most physiological traits, irrigation after the available soil moisture reached 60% caused a relatively quick return to the initial value. There was no significant difference in fodder yield in the 80% and 60% irrigation treatments. When the available soil moisture reached 40%, the physiological traits showed a greater decrease than before. It seems that some damages to physiological traits are irreparable to such an extent that they eventually lead to a drop in yield or a decrease in the quality of Persian clover fodder. Finally, it is not necessary for clover irrigation at levels of more than 60% of available water, taking into account the more quality of forage in the level of 60% (about 1.5% of insoluble fiber, and 11% feed value), considering the water conditions of the country.