Production potential and persistence of red clover varieties

Abstract

Red clover (Trifolium pratense L) is botanically a perennial, although it often behaves as a biennial. The crop generally survives for 2 to 3 seasons in most clover-growing regions of the world, and is considered to lack persistence. The objective of this investigation was to analyse the production potential, persistence and quality characteristics of domestic and imported red clover varieties, with a view to subsequent inclusion in breeding programs. Experiments were conducted at the Rimski Sancevi Experiment Field Station during 2001-2002. Six clover varieties (Merviot, Mercury, Lemmon, Junior GKT, Diana, Kolubara) and two populations (BSI and BL-3) were evaluated.