Performance of local and exotic alfalfa cultivars under different environmental conditions in Egypt [electronic resource].

Includes references.

Finding high yielding alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) cultivars adapted for the new reclaimed land conditions is considered an important task for alfalfa breeders and growers as well. The objective of this study was to evaluate three exotic alfalfa cultivars imported from USA (109/01, 109/02 and 109/03) in comparison with two local alfalfa cultivars; Ismailia-1 and Siwa for annual and seasonal yield distribution and quality. Experiments were carried out at two different environmental conditions; Ismailia and the New Valley Agricultural Research Stations, ARC, Egypt. Annual and seasonal dry forage yields over 29 successive cuts were determined. Results showed that the local cultivars Ismailia-1 and Siwa were superior in yielding capacity and distribution to the exotic cultivars. The highest total dry forage yield of 29 cuts was obtained from Isamilia-1 (49.0 t h-1), followed by Siwa (48.8 t h-1) at Ismailia. Similar trend occurred in the New Valley, where Siwa expressed the highest total dry forage yield (118.7 t h-1) from 27 cuts, followed by Ismailia-1 (117.8 t h-1). The total dry forage yield combined over the two locations declared the superiority of Siwa and Ismailia-1 to the exotic genotypes. Similar trends were obtained for plant height. However, chemical analysis expressed slight superiority in CP%, Ash % and EE% in favor of exotic group. Accordingly, Ismailia-1 and Siwa could be recommended as alfalfa cultivars for the new reclaimed land at Ismailia and New Valley governorates. The genotypic cluster of these two cultivars indicated that both are genetically related, descending from Egyptian alfalfa landraces which have been subjected to severe biotic and abiotic stresses in the New Valley area for a long period.

Summary in Arabic.

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