Optimal harvest timing of Prangos ferulacea (L.) Lindl: effects of phenology stages, elevation and type of plant factors on forage quality

Prangos ferulacea ;(L.) Lindl (Umbelliferae) is a forage and medicinal plant that grows in central Asia. This study was carried out to determine the nutritive value of P. ferulacea, which is often used as animal fodder. Plant samples collected from two elevation levels (2200- 2900 m) of western Iran were evaluated at two stages of maturity, flowering and seeding stage for fertile plants and at 42 and 62 days after leaf emergence for infertile individuals. The nutrient composition, including metabolizable energy (ME) and digestible dry matter (DMD), crude protein (CP), water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC), acid detergent fibre (ADF), natural detergent fibre (NDF) and crude fibre (CF) contents were measured by near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) technology. The stage of maturity and type of plant (fertile and infertile) were significantly related to the CP, ME, NDF and ADF contents. Based on multivariate analysis (two-way ANOVA), the phenology, individual and phenology × individual interaction factors had the highest effect on nutrient composition parameters. Based on our findings, we proposed that infertile plants at 42 days after leaf emergence stage represent the best quality fodder. Elevation level did not significantly affect forage quality.