Abstract
Harvesting or hushes during summer in trials or Atriplex project was associated with high plant mortalitics. However. it \\as not clear whether these deaths were caused by seasonal conditions. since no comparison was made with hand stripping in winter. This cxperimeut is to examine the effects of month of harvesting on the survival and productivity of.·ltl'i!)!l'\' all/mm/a and Atriplcx lcnt f onnis. The experiment had two species. Si" harvesting months (November. 1994, January. March. May. July. and September. 1(95) and four repl icates (ten plant /repl icate ). The seedlings were allowed to establ ish for one year and after that scheduled harvesting up to pencil thickness were carried out. Fresh and dry weight of leaves and twigs and lcaf.tw ig ratio were recorded. Dry leaves were analyzed for Na. CL N and ash content. The soilhad ECe of 16-37 dS m· l . SI\R 20---+X (mmol L 1)1'. and was silty clay loam. The ground water table fluctuated between 1.3-2.7 m. Months of harvesting had great impact on the survival and productivity of the species. Plant mortality was higher when harvesting was carried out during March to July and was 5-8 times greater in A. lentiformis than .1. uninicola, Re-sprouting (measured b) recording shoot volume two months after harvesting) was the highest in A. !el1/ifol'mis when harvested in July, In the case 01'.1. atnniclou, regeneration was greater when harvested in January or March. Shoot fresh weight was significantly higher in .L untnicol a for January and March. Leaf twig ratio of the forage. harvesting in January was higher in A. cunnicola. while forage of .1. lentijorntis was significantly more woody when harvested in January, Harvesting in March to July caused the maximum plant mortality.
