Nutritional Contents and Yield Performances of Lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) Cultivars in Southern Black Sea Shores

Abstract

Lucerne is an invaluable forage crop for Turkish farmers as it produces high quality feed during summer on lowland fields. But cultivar selection is always vague in particular regions concerning quality criteria such as protein and mineral contents which are extremely important to prevent certain diseases caused by essential element shortage. So, this study was conducted in experimental field of Black Sea Agricultural Research Institute in order to determine suitable Lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) cultivars for coastal conditions of Black Sea Region between 2002 and 2004. Plant height, main stem diameter, branch number of main stem, green forage yield, hay yield, crude protein contents and yield, crude ash content and yield, mineral matter were investigated in the research. The cultivar Planet, among the 19 cultivars, had the highest dry matter yield with 14.6 ton ha-1; however, the cultivar Granada statistically had the lowest dry matter yield (7.7 ton ha-1) in 2003. Same cultivar, Granada, did not change its place in 2004. It yielded in 18.7 ton ha-1 in both years. The cultivar eagle had the highest yield concerning total dry matter yield in 2003 and 2004. As a result; Granada and Bilensoy-80 cultivars were not suitable in Samsun coastal conditions and Eagle, Prista, Derby, Planet, Zajecharska-83, Calyon, MA 414, Gea, MA 324, Miral 5683, Kalender, Calfa, Artal 5588 cultivars showed better performance than the other cultivars. © Medwell Journals, 2010.