CHANGES IN SOME PARAMETERS IN MIXTURES OF SAINFOIN WITH
SUBTERRANEAN CLOVER
VILIANA VASILEVA* AND ANNA ILIEVA
Institute of Forage Crops,
89 “General Vladimir Vazov” Str., Pleven 5800, Bulgaria
*(e-mail : viliana.vasileva@gmail.com)
(Received : 16 June 2016; Accepted : 26 June 2016)
SUMMARY
Changes in some morphological and physiological parameters (leafs/stems ratio, total plastid pigments content, amount of fixed nitrogen) of sainfoin (Onobrychis Adans.) and subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum ssp.), pure grown and in mixtures in ratio 50 : 50 per cent were studied in filed experiment in the Institute of Forage Crops, Pleven (2011-2015). Local population of sainfoin and three subspecies of subterranean clover, i. e. Trifolium subterraneum ssp. brachycalicinum (cv. Antas), Trifolium subterraneum ssp. yaninicum (cv. Trikkala) and Trifolium subterraneum ssp. subterraneum (cv. Denmark) were used. Leafs/stems ratio of sainfoin in pure stands was 0.35 and it was found be enhanced in mixtures with Trifolium subterraneum ssp. brachycalicinum (0.39) by 12.8 per cent, and with Trifolium subterraneum ssp. yaninicum (0.38) by 9.5 per cent. Total plastid pigments in mixtures increased by 8.3 per cent for Trifolium subterraneum ssp. yaninicum ssp. brachycalicinum and Trifolium subterraneum ssp. yaninicum, and by 9.8 per cent for Trifolium subterraneum ssp. subterraneum, and decreased in sainfoin by 17.2 per cent for mixture with Trifolium subterraneum ssp. yaninicum. There were from 2.20 kg N/da (sainfoin+Trifolium subterraneum ssp. subterraneum) to 2.88 kg N/da (sainfoin+Trifolium subterraneum ssp. brachycalicinum) more fixed nitrogen in comparison to the amount fixed from pure grown sainfoin. Sainfoin and subterranean clover in mixtures showed good mutual tolerance, morphological and physiological status.
Key words: leafs/stems ratio, plastid pigments, sainfoin, subterranean clover, mixtures