Preliminary results on agronomic performance of barrel medic (Medicago truncatula) in Serbia

Abstract

A small-plot trial with eight Australian barrel medic (Medicago truncatula Gaertn) cultivars was carried out in 2010 at Rimski Šančevi. The average green forage and forage dry matter yields were highest in Jemalong (30.7 t ha-1 and 7.3 t ha-1) and Parabinga (30.7 t ha-1 and 8.0 t ha-1). Forage dry matter crude protein content ranged between 150.8 g kg-1 in Parabinga and 179.4 g kg-1 in Jester. Forage neutral detergent fibre content varied from 305.2 g kg-1 in Sephi to 458.8 g kg-1 in Caliph, while the average forage acid detergent fibre content was 312.8 g kg-1. The average seed yield for all cultivars was 281 kg ha-1 and may be considered satisfying, as it was obtained in a very rainy and warm growing season. Jemalong and Parabinga had the highest aboveground nitrogen yield (190 kg ha-1 and 193 kg ha-1) and thus the greatest potential for green manure.

Keywords

• acid detergent fibre
• barrel medic
• forage crude protein yield
• forage quality
• forage yield
• green manure
• Medicago truncatula
• model legume
• neutral detergent fibre
• seed yield