Forage yield and some quality traits of persian clover (Trifolium resupinatum L. var. Majus boiss.) at winter and spring sowing under the Edirne ecological conditions

The research was carried out to determine the forage yield and some quality properties of Persian clover (Trifolium resupinatum L. var. Majus Boiss.) in different sowing times (winter and spring) under the Edirne ecological conditions. The study was conducted during 2015-2016 at Değirmenyeni village of the Edirne province in Thrace, Turkey. Experiments were planted in Randomized Block Design with three replications. At sowing time, a basal fertilizer containing 50 kg ha-1 nitgoregen was incorporated into the soil at the time of land preparation. At each sowing times, seed was sown in plots of 10 rows, with a spacing of 25 cm and 5 m in length. Seeds were sown at a rate of 20 kg ha-1 on October 7th, 2015 and Mach 12th, 2016. The number of branches, number of leaves, leaf length, leaflet length, stem diameter, plant height, total green herbage yield, total dry matter yield, crude protein, crude cellulose, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, ADF and NDF ratios were determined. According to the results, Persian clover was showed equal superiority of some quality properties at winter or spring sowing under the Edirne ecological conditions, but in terms of green and dry fodder yields, spring sowing is better.