AGRONOMIC EVALUATION OF ALFALFA GENOTYPES UNDER ECOLOGICAL CONDITIONS OF EASTERN CROATIA

The objectives of this study were to determine variation for important agronomic traits of alfalfa collection and to identify valuable germplasm that could be used in alfalfa breeding programs in brown soil. Fifteen cultivars/populations of differing geographical origin were evaluated. Investigation was carried out at location Osijek for a period of two years (2004 and 2005). Field trial was arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Ten agronomic traits were analysed: dry matter yield, number of stems per plant, plant height, regeneration after cutting, protein yield, number of internodes per stem, leaf to stem ratio, content of crude protein, neutral and acid detergent fibre. High yields and favourable values for the most of the investigated traits were found for Australian cultivarsGenesisandPrime, Hungarian cultivarKM Norbert, Argentinean cultivarBarbaraand American cultivarMagnum V. Therefore, these alfalfa cultivars could be considered as a valuable genetic material for the alfalfa improvement program.