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The objective of this study was to evaluate the forage yield and chemical composition of six variants including two alfalfa cultivars, a bird’s-foot trefoil cultivar, and three grass mixtures selected as valuable biological material for potential riparian grasslands’ renovation. The experiments were carried out on plots in Dragomiresti village located near Dambovita River riparian area. One level of fertilization (120 g m-2) was considered for each variant. The plant material had high concentrations of dry matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, and phosphorus, respectively. All the fertilized samples exhibited higher concentrations of dry matter, nitrates, and phosphorus than the corresponding non-fertilized samples. High concentrations of water-soluble carbohydrates were determined for alfalfa which showed also the smallest amount of neutral detergent fiber. The maximum ADF content was found in the fertilized Valahia alfalfa cultivar and the non-fertilized complex grass mixture. Regarding the potential for riparian grassland renovation, we can conclude that the Valahia alfalfa cultivar and the complex grass mixture with five species performed better in terms of forage yield and overall quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main aim was to establish some differences in productivity, nutritional value but also in the efficiency in obtaining performances in growing and fattening animals. The following alfalfa varieties were studied: Pioneer PR55 V48, Sandra, Valahia (4AG08), Dobrogea (4AG07), and Dimitra. Five plots were established for the cultivation of alfalfa with an area of 1 hectare each on a farm in Balotesti village following the evolution of plant growth parameters and their chemical composition, especially in year 2, at the 2nd harvest. The green mass obtained was preserved in the form of hay. The animal experiment was organized on a sheep farm in Dambovita County where fattening young sheep from Turcana × Suffolk half-breed were fed with hay for a period of 3 months. Concerning the alfalfa hay, the dry matter ranged between 848 and 861 g, organic matter between 759 and 782 g, and crude protein 65 and 76 g, respectively. Gross energy was similar for all varieties ranging around 18 MJ. Considering the fattening performances, the average daily gain recorded by the fattening lambs, during the experiment ranged between 171.4 and 181.2 g/day. We recommend the use of hay from the Romanian varieties in fattening lamb diets, which demonstrated similar characteristics to the valuable foreign ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cultivation of alfalfa has an essential role in ensuring the required fodder, but the achievement of cropping performances e.g. proper yield, persistence, winter hardiness, competition capacity, ecological plasticity, depends on a multitude of technological, environmental, and genetic factors. The selection of suitable varieties for cultivation in pure stands or more perennial and productive mixtures with other perennial legumes and grasses is a key element for a successful crop. The objective of the study was to characterize the bio-productive and forage quality performances of 18 alfalfa varieties available for cultivation in Romania, originating from Romania and abroad, in the eco-climatic conditions specific to the Romanian Plain. The screening of these performances that substantiate the appreciation of the biological yield was based on detailed experiences in the field and laboratory. A set of representative indicators was selected for measurements, determinations, and observations, including growth rate, tillering, leaf-stem ratio, forage quality indicator, average crop yield, and canopy height. It was found that Romanian varieties presented improved ecological plasticity compared to the foreign varieties in the eco-climatic conditions of the experimental site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the assessment of light interception and absorption patterns, canopy structure and aerial dry matter allocation in 27 alfalfa varieties grown in the eco-climatic conditions of Gherghita Plain, Romania, and whether the results can lead to the improvement of cropping technologies for obtaining superior forage yields and better winter hardiness. Alfalfa is a perennial crop that produces its highest yields during the second year of growth and the paper emphasizes the experimental results obtained during the last harvest cycle of the second cropping year. This period was selected to establish the ecophysiological patterns of the alfalfa plants before entering the winter. The morphological variables were the leaf/stem ratio L/S (g DM leaf m-2/ g DM stem m-2), average height of the canopy (cm) and forage yield (t DM ha-1). The radiation variables comprised the incident and transmitted light, zenith angle, probe's spread, and leaf area index (LAI). PAR profile was assessed before cutting using a canopy analyzer (SunScan Canopy Analysis System, Delta-T Devices Ltd., Cambridge, UK).The mean values for the 27 varieties were as follows: LAI of 2.69 (CV=28.76%), canopy height of 41.44 cm (CV=18.41%), leaf/stem ratio of 0.73 (CV=17.19%), and a forage yield of 4.23 t DM ha-1 (CV=21.66%). The relative low coefficients of variation related to the ecophysiological response of alfalfa plants to the abiotic factors suggest a moderate variability between varieties despite their geographical region of origin. A positive correlation was found between canopy height and L/S Ratio (r = 0.52; p<0.01), and with forage yield (r = 0.54; p<0.01). L/S Ratio was positevely correlated with forage dry matter yield (0.63; p<0.001). The interactions between vertical light absorption - absorbing medium - morphological and yield characteristics of the variety have been accurately assessed using the factor analysis. These three factors have explained 79.4% of the variance in the dataset. The obtained indicators are useful to characterize the winter hardiness and to facilitate the selection of the most suitable varieties to be cultivated in equivalent eco-climatic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to estimate the solar radiation conversion into forage production (yield) for orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) species in the specific conditions of the Romanian Plain. A field experiment with 2 varieties of orchardgrass (Ambassador and Regent) in pure stand and in mixture with 30% alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) was conducted at Moara Domneasca Didactic Farm of University of Agronomical Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Bucharest. The experiment was arranged in a split-plot completely randomized block design, with four replicates in a bi-factorial arrangement with ten experimental variants and three cutting cycles. The weather parameters were collected by an automatic meteorological station installed in the location of Moara Domneasca. During the experiments the coefficient of solar energy conversion into yield increased with the canopy growth to earing stage, in the first cutting cycle, and decreased at the following cycles with the plants growth and development. During three years of experiments (2009-2011), the Regent cultivar presented on average, the highest values of Radiation Use Efficiency, respectively 1.82 g DM/MJ, in the first harvest cycle, in the mixture variants with alfalfa. The studied variables for yield formation were influenced by the growth stage, crop arrangement, cutting cycle and leaf area index. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]