Performance of lucerne cultivars under irrigated conditions in the Southeastern Anatolia Region of Turkey

Agronomic characteristics of 18 lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) cultivars were investigated to identify suitable cultivars that could be grown under irrigated conditions in the Southeastern Anatolia Region of Turkey. The average green herbage yields of lucerne cultivars for 3 years ranged from 36 721 to 61 534 kg/ha, dry herbage yield from 9523 to 17 453 kg/ha, crude protein percentage from 16.45 to 19.01%, and crude protein yield from 1731 to 3286 kg/ha. 'Syn.1' gave the highest yield followed by 'P.5929', 'Peru' and 'Elçi', however there were no significant differences among the top cultivars. 'Kayseri' lucerne cultivar, which was used as control, had the lowest green and dry herbage yield.