Evaluation of some selected alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) lines for herbage yield and forage quality

This research was conducted to determine performances of selected alfalfa lines in terms of dry matter yield and some quality parameters under Mediterranean conditions throughout the years 2006-2009. In the study, phenotypically superior 11 alfalfa lines and two standard cultivars were evaluated for dry matter yield (DMY), crude protein (CP), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) concentrations, digestible dry matter (DDM) and dry matter intake (DMI). Correlation coefficient analysis for the traits studied was also performed to determine relationships between dry matter yield, plant height (PH) and quality traits. According to average of three years results, there were significant differences among alfalfa lines and cultivars in terms of above all mentioned components. Significant positive correlations were found between DMY and ADF, while negative correlations existed between NDF and DMI. Mean DMY, CP, ADF, NDF concentrations, DDM and DMI were 18.147 kg ha -1 , 17.4%, 41.0%, 49.0%, 56.9% and 2.46, respectively. All lines and cultivars gave their highest DMY in the second year. The highest DMY averaged over three years was obtained from line 10, while lowest one was obtained from cultivar MA 414. Cultivar MA 414 and lines 8 and 11 were superior in terms of CP content, while lines 10 and 2 and cultivar MA 414 had lower ADF and NDF contents than the other alfalfa genotypes. It was concluded that lines 1, 2, 5-8 and 10 with higher DMY and relatively better or similar quality traits could be selected as components for establishment of new cultivars or start to a new source nursery as component of synthetics.