Ten new annual legumes tested for unirrigated lands of the mediterranean-climate region of Chile

At the Cauquenes Experimental Center INIA, Chile (35’58’s 72’17‘W), phenology, persistence, forage and seed production were evaluated in 10 annual legumes of potential economic and rehabilitation ecology value for the Mediterranean sub-humid zone of Chile. These included 7 cultivars (cvs.) of yellow and pink serradellas (Ornithopus contpressus and O. sativw, respectively), 2 cvs. of biserrula (Biserrula pelecinus) and one CV. of balansa clover (Trifoliunl michelianum). The study period extended over three successive, climatically contrasted years, with annual rainfall ranging from 900 mm vs. 259 mm per year. The results will be directly incorporated in an existing selection and improvement program seeking the broadest possible spectrum of germoplasm in terms of timing of growth, winter vigour, seed size and dormancy characteristics of the various candidate species and cvs. The biserrula CV. Mor 99 showed high production potential and persistence in all three years of the study, despite being very late-flowering. The yellow serradella cvs. Eneabba, Paros, Santorini and Madeira were more precocious in their onset of flowering (by 7 to 15 days) than Pitman. Thus, this first group is apparently better adapted to the short spring conditions existing in the study area.