Determination of the agronomic traits of some alfalfa (medicago sativa L.) genotypes

In Turkey, animal nutrition is generally based on natural pastures and grasslands. However, due to excessive grazing pressure, both yield and quality have declined significantly. To meet the need for high-quality roughage for livestock, the cultivation of forage crops within arable farming systems is recommended. For successful plant adaptation, research should focus on traits such as high adaptability, yield potential, and forage quality. For economically sustainable production, it is crucial to select plant species that are high-yielding, of good quality, resistant to pests, diseases, cold, and drought, and well-adapted to local ecological conditions. Among such forage crops, alfalfa holds a leading position. As the first cultivated plant in the world, alfalfa is known as the "queen of forage crops." It has a wide adaptability range, thriving in cold regions such as Siberia and Alaska in the Northern Hemisphere, as well as in the hot climates of North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. Alfalfa is important in livestock feeding due to its high yield, rich protein and carotene content, low fiber level, and suitability for silage and pellet production. Turkey is among the self-sufficient countries in terms of agricultural production. However, the country's population growth rate is much higher than that of developed nations. In the coming years, food production may not be sufficient to meet the demands of the growing population. Therefore, it is essential to increase both animal and plant production. Merely using high-yielding plant varieties and animal breeds is not enough to solve this problem. In addition, the inadequacy of pastures and the presence of large numbers of low-yielding grazing animals contribute to low levels of livestock production. In short, to ensure the supply of animal products that are vital for human nutrition, there is a need for high-quality forage crops. Turkey is recognized as a gene center for many plant species and is among the richest countries in the world in terms of plant diversity. There are about 50 known alfalfa species in Turkey. This study focuses on the evaluation of certain agronomic characteristics of alfalfa plants that were previously collected from different regions of the country and subjected to initial breeding efforts. In this study, agronomic traits were determined for 20 selected alfalfa lines.