Univrsity of Tehran Press Iranian Journal of Field Crop Science 2008-4811 52 1 2021 03 21 The response of vetch (Vicia sativa) growth and yield to planting density and starter nitrogen under conservation and conventional conditions The response of vetch (Vicia sativa) growth and yield to planting density and starter nitrogen under conservation and conventional conditions 167 176 82441 10.22059/ijfcs.2020.289784.654645 FA Nosratollah Heidarpour Dryland Agricultural Research Institute, Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Gachsaran, Iran 0009-0002-8179-4801 Amin Namdari Dryland Agricultural Research Institute, Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Gachsaran, Iran Abolfazl Baghbani-Arani Dept. of Agriculture, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran 0000-0001-9944-8611 Journal Article 2019 09 29 Improving forage production in dryland areas requires attention to the issues such as planting density, nitrogen use and conserving water and soil resources. In this regard, the current study was conducted to investigate the influence of planting density, starter nitrogen level and tillage practices (conventional and conservation) on vetch (<em>Vicia sativa</em>) growth and yield under rain fed semi tropical conditions (Gachsaran dryland research station). The experiment was conducted in a strip split plot in three replicates for three years.  Treatments included residues of preceding wheat (with or without), planting density (100, 150 and 200 plants per m²) and applied nitrogen as starter fertilizer (0, 15 and 30 kg.ha^-1 N). Based on the results of analysis of variance, no treatment had significant effect on early growth, days to flowering and ripening and plant height. The results showed that retaining preceding wheat residues caused significant increase in fresh forage and grain yields. For the most studied traits, adding starter nitrogen fertilizer didn’t cause any significant effect. The results of nitrogen and residue interactions showed that although adding 15  kg ha^-1 starter N slightly increased grain yield especially when the residues were retained on the soil but higher amount (30 kg ha^-1 ) reduced grain yield regardless the presence or absence of residues. If producing forage is the main purpose of vetch planting, 150 plants per m² is recommendable while for seed production, 100 plants per m² leads to better seed yield. Improving forage production in dryland areas requires attention to the issues such as planting density, nitrogen use and conserving water and soil resources. In this regard, the current study was conducted to investigate the influence of planting density, starter nitrogen level and tillage practices (conventional and conservation) on vetch (<em>Vicia sativa</em>) growth and yield under rain fed semi tropical conditions (Gachsaran dryland research station). The experiment was conducted in a strip split plot in three replicates for three years.  Treatments included residues of preceding wheat (with or without), planting density (100, 150 and 200 plants per m²) and applied nitrogen as starter fertilizer (0, 15 and 30 kg.ha^-1 N). Based on the results of analysis of variance, no treatment had significant effect on early growth, days to flowering and ripening and plant height. The results showed that retaining preceding wheat residues caused significant increase in fresh forage and grain yields. For the most studied traits, adding starter nitrogen fertilizer didn’t cause any significant effect. The results of nitrogen and residue interactions showed that although adding 15  kg ha^-1 starter N slightly increased grain yield especially when the residues were retained on the soil but higher amount (30 kg ha^-1 ) reduced grain yield regardless the presence or absence of residues. If producing forage is the main purpose of vetch planting, 150 plants per m² is recommendable while for seed production, 100 plants per m² leads to better seed yield. https://ijfcs.ut.ac.ir/article_82441_03a65b3c5a3fe86a12a076cc17667268.pdf