A comparison of a number of annual cool season legumes under dryland conditions in the Dohne sourveld.

Abstract

Fifteen annual cool season legumes were compared under dryland conditions on two sites in the Dohne Sourveld. These sites were Dohne, with a mild but dry winter and an average rainfall of 743 mm per year, and Grasslands, a colder, wetter site. Vicia spp were among the highest-yielding cultivars at both sites. At Dohne the mean yield of the legumes that performed best was slightly more than that of the veld and their use does not seem worthwhile. At Grasslands, the mean yield of the highest-yielding legumes was above 6 t/ha/year and their use does seem economical. The high yield of the legumes during wet seasons suggests that their cultivation under irrigation should be profitable. Under these or high rainfall conditions seed production may be lucrative.Language: English

Keywords: cathcart district; Cool seasons; cultivars; cultivation; disturbance history; dohne research station; dohne sourveld; dry matter yield; Dryland conditions; grasslands; growth curves; legumes; production; rainfall; seed production; south africa; trifolium vesiculosum; vicia; Vicia species; yield