Forage Yield and Quality Attributes of Berseem Clover Genotypes under Mediterranean Climate

Abstract

It is quite significant to develop annual and high-yield forage legumes to be pure-sown or intercropped with graminae species in winter cropping systems of Mediterranean region. In this sense, berseem clover is considered as a significant species for Mediterranean region. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine yield and herbage quality attributes of berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.) genotypes in Çukurova region with dominant Mediterranean climate. Experiments were conducted over the experimental fields of Eastern Mediterranean Agricultural Research Institute (Doğankent/Adana) in winter intermediate cropping system (November-April) of 2010-11 and 2011-12 growing seasons. Experiments were carried out in randomized blocks design with 3 replications. In the first and second year of the experiments, green herbage (GH) yields varied respectively between 53.3-79.7 and between 22.7-32.3 t/ha; dry matter (DM) yields varied respectively between 7.26-12.02 and 5.16-7.42 t/ha; crude protein (CP) ratios varied respectively between 11.37-15.39 and between 15.22-18.88%; digestible dry matter (DDM) ratios varied respectively between 61.10-68.08 and between 56.84-67.70%, acid detergent fiber (ADF) ratios varied respectively between 27.22-41.45 and between 23.07-31.41%; relative feed values (RFV) varied respectively between 99.3-155.0 and between 146.5-190.5. In both years, genotypes 3, 8, 15, 16, 17 and18 had greater DM yields than the standard cultivar and the other genotypes. These genotypes were also prominent w-for herbage quality attributes. Genotype 18 was registered under the name of “DERYA” in 2015 and the other promising genotypes are still being used in on-going breeding studies.