THE EFFECT OF MIXED PLANTING OF BIRDSFOOT TREFOIL, SAINFOIN, SUBTERRANEAN CLOVER AND TALL FESCUE

The Institute of Forage Crops in Pleven, Bulgaria (2011-2012) conducted a pot trial to investigate nodule biomass, nitrate reductase activity, and biochemical composition of birdsfoot trefoil, sainfoin, subclover, and tall fescue, both alone and in combination. Birdsfoot trefoil (100 percent); sainfoin (100 percent); subterranean clover (100 percent); tall fescue (100 percent); birdsfoot trefoil + tall fescue (50:50); sainfoin + tall fescue (50:50); birdsfoot trefoil + subterranean clover + tall fescue (50:50); birdsfoot trefoil + subterrane (33:33:33). When compared to nodulation in pure crops, birdsfoot trefoil and subclover in binary mixtures with tall fescue generated 15.1 and 15.4 percent more nodules. Tall fescue, on the other hand, inhibited sainfoin nodulation by 25.0 percent. The number of nodules considerably increased when the third component (i.e. subclover) was added to the mix (by 18.5 percent ). Except for long fescue, all legumes studied showed an increase in nitrate reductase activity in the leaves

The total amount of plastid pigments was found to be lower in blends of birdsfoot trefoil and tall fescue, but higher in mixtures of sainfoin and subclover and tall fescue. The aboveground bulk of birdsfoot trefoil has the greatest crude protein content (15.07 percent ). When compared to pure legumes, water soluble carbohydrates in combinations were much higher, while tall fescue had significantly lower.

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