Chemical Contents of Red Clover Genotypes on Crop Improvement Systems as Livestock Feed

A field experiment was conducted in 2000-2001 at the Research Station of East Anatolia Agricultural Research Institute in Pasinler of Erzurum province in Turkey. In this study, 25 red clovers (Trifolium pratense L.) genotypes were evaluated in terms of chemical contents for animal feeding in the 2 years results. The red clover genotypes were sown in the spring of 2000. The experiment was designed a randomized complete block with replicated 4 times. The genotypes were harvested in 50% flowering once in 2000 and 3 times in 2001. There were significant differences in N (p<0.05), Mg (p<0.05), Zn (p<0.05), Fe (p<0.05), Mn (p<0.01) and Cu (p<0.01) contents but no in Na content among the red clover genotypes. According to 2 years results, especially L-818 line and Xiashao cultivar in N; L-1881 and L-812 line in Mg; Redwent cultivar, L-77, L-1922 lines and Lucrun cultivars in Zn; L-77 line, Redwent cultivar, L-812, L-1922 lines and Lucrun cultivar in Fe; L-79 line, Redwent cultivar and L-77 line in Mn; L-79 line, Redwent cultivar and L-77 line in Cu had higher chemical contents than the others for animal feeding. The genotypes rich in terms of chemical content can be successfully used to meet the requirement the forage quality of animal and to gain new quality red clover genotypes for animal nutrition.