Effect of cutting management on seed yield, seed yield components and seed quality of red clover (Trifolium pretense L.)

Abstract

Red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) is the second most important perennial forage legumes in the Republic of Serbia, cultivated on 90-120.000 ha. Nowadays red clover is considered as a very important catch crop and green manure as well as row material for production of pharmaceutical supplements based on phytoestrogens. Currently, domestic seed production is not sufficient to meet the demand, so the import of seeds from other countries is necessary. One of the most important factors that guarantee high yields of red clover seeds is cutting management, heavily influenced by environmental conditions. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of cutting management on seed yields, some seed yield components and seed quality of NS red clover variety Una. The trial was established on the experimental field of the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops in Bački Petrovac according to a randomized block design with three replicates. Red clover variety Una was sown on April 10, 2018, at a row-to-row spacing of 25 cm with a seeding rate of 15 kg ha-1. The size of the elementary plot unit was 15 m2 (3x5 m).