Seeding rate effects on yield components and forage quality of Agaitti Berseem-2002 - an improved variety of berseem clover

摘要

The poor availability and high cost of quality forage seed provide a major limitation to the productivity of resource-poor dairy farmers in Pakistan. The cost can be minimized if such seeding rates are used to provide optimal forage and seed yields. Afield experiment was therefore conducted to investigate the effect of different seeding rates (10, 15, 20, and 25 kg/ha) of Agaitti Berseem-2002 on forage and seed yield components, and forage quality. The results revealed that the seeding rate significantly (P < 0.05) affected number of seeds/m2, seed weight, seed yield and acid detergent fiber (ADF). However, seed rate effects on all the remaining forage and seed yield traits, and quality parameters were found to be non-significant (P > 0.05). The highest value for number of heads/m2 (471) was achieved at a seeding rate of 25 kg/ha, whereas the highest thousand seed weight (3.99 g) and estimated seed yield (687 kg/ha) were obtained at 20 kg/ha, and ADF of forage (20%) was found at a seeding rate of15 kg/ha. The lowest values for number of heads/m2 (287), seed weight (3.33 g) and estimated seed yield (328 kg/ha) were recorded at a seeding rate of 10 kg/ha. There was no significant difference found between 15 and 20 kg/ha seeding rates in relation to forage yield and quality parameters. Therefore, a seeding rate of 10 kg/ha is recommended to attain the highest forage yield of better quality, whereas a seeding rate of 20 kg/ha provided higher seed production than 10, 15, and 25 kg/ha.