Characterization and potential role of annual clover landraces in the farming systems of Mediterranean areas

The re-introduction of forages into the farming systems od central and sout hern Italy has been advocated by EU policies in order to reduce high inputs and favour more sustainable agricultural systems. Since legumes could cert ainly play a major role, landraces and natural populations of Trifolium ale xandrinum (2), T. incarnatum (5) and T. squarrosum (3) were investigated. T wo experiments were conducted during the 1991/92, 1992/93 and 1993/94 seaso ns in Perugia, central Italy. The objective of the first was to obtain the morphological and physiological characteristics of the entries, while the s econd assessed the biomass production, forage quality (stem:leaf: infloresc ence ratio, protein, fibre, O.M. digestibility, milk and meat Forage Units) and seed yields. In T. incarnatum, flowering time, leaf area, stem length and diameter were important characteristics for discriminating between popu lations. Norcia and Rocca di Corno, two natural populations of T. incarnatu m, flowered early, produced the most biomass and had high forage duality. T heir potential as forage/pasture crops and/or cover crops in Mediterranean farming systems is discussed.