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LANG, J., VEJRAŽKA, K.: Yields and quality of forage legumes under imbalanced year precipitation conditions on south Moravia. Acta univ. agric. et silvic. Mendel. Brun., 2012, LX, No. 6, pp. 217–224 In this paper, yield and quality of forage following species of forage legumes were evaluated with regard to precipitations: lucerne (Medicago sativa L.), red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), white clover (Trifolium repens L.), kura clover (Trifolium ambiguum M.), alsike clover (Trifolium hybridum L.) and birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.). The trial was sown in the spring of 2008, evaluated in the period 2009–2011. Analysis of samples was performed with the apparatus NIRS 6500. Following parameters were evaluated: production of dry matter, energy concentration (NEL), contents of fi bre and crude protein. The highest three year yield average was measured for lucerne (15.01 t.ha−1), followed by red clover group (9.3–11.8 t.ha−1). Kura clover gained the lowest yield (1.97 t.ha−1). The average crude protein contents (g.kg−1) were: lucerne 211.47, red clover group (184.3–194.8), white clover group (229.1–238.7) and birdsfoot trefoil (204.2). The obtained results indicated that lucerne responded at best to periods of drought. Although the production of dry matter decreased in periods of drought, the canopy of stands remained to be complete in contradistinction to white clover, which partly disappeared from the stand. Red clover and alsike clover disappeared from the stand during the trial. lucerne, clovers, birdsfoot trefoil, drought Forage legumes represent the main source of plant proteins in the nutrition of ruminants. In forage legumes, the highest concentration of both energy and crude protein can be found out in the stage of fl ower bud appearance (butonisation); this phenological stage represents and optimum for the crop harvest. Later on, quality of forage legumes decreases, plant tissues quickly lignify, fi bre content increases, and the content of energy is reduced (Vorlíček, Dubec, 2006). Lucerne (Medicago sativa) is one of the most frequently grown forage legumes worldwide due to its high nutritional value and its drought tolerance. Lucerne represents a traditional crop in the Czech Republic and at present it is more and more frequently grown also in higher altitudes (Houdek, 2009). Lucerne requires good-quality soils and tolerates also drier conditions. A huge root system of lucerne enables its plants to draw water and nutrients also from deeper soil layers. Results of utility value tests performed within the period of 2007–2010 indicated that yields of dry matter ranged from 17.8 do 22.7 t.ha−1 within this three-year time interval under climatic and soil conditions of the Czech Republic (ÚKZÚZ, 2011). Red clover (Trifolium pratense) and white clover (Trifolium repens) are other important sources of proteins. In higher altitudes, clovers are typical protein-rich crops that substitute lucerne (which does not give reliable yields there). Clovers tolerate lower temperatures and require a higher content of moisture in soil. As compared with lucerne, clovers contain less crude protein but more water-soluble sugars, which represent an important and easily available source of energy within the process of digestion. A slower lignifi cation is clover’s another advantage. This process is characterised by a slower increase in fi bre content so that the harvest intervals are extended. From the genetic point of view, red clover has diploid and tetraploid varieties. The 218 J. Lang, K. Vejražka process of its breeding and selection is focused above all to yield stability and higher content of sugars in dry matter. Tetraploid varieties contain more water and this may be negatively manifested in the length of wilting period, above all when making silage. A longer period of wilting causes also an undesirable decomposition of sugars and crude proteins. Diploid varieties of red clover produced in average 17.3 and 13.0 t.ha−1 of dry matter in the fi rst and the second production year, respectively (ÚKZÚZ, 2011a [on-line]) while tetraploid ones produced 18.6 and 13.5 t.ha−1, respectively (ÚKZÚZ, 2011b [on-line]). In white clover, production of dry matter ranged from 9.8 to 6.8 t.ha−1 within the period of three years (ÚKZÚZ, 2006a; ÚKZÚZ, 2009, [online]). Alsike clover (Trifolium hybridum) is suitable above all for humid regions with a lower content of nutrients in soil where it can fully replace the red clover. In the stage of fl owering, the process of lignifi cation is slow and the quality of forage is not reduced so much as that of lucerne. The average yield (3 varieties, 5 sites) of dry matter in the fi rst and the second year of production was 14.1 t.ha−1 (ÚKZÚZ, 2005a [on-line]) and 8.6 t.ha−1 (ÚKZÚZ, 2006b [on-line]), respectively. In other trial performed in the same localities, the dry matter yield was only 3.6 t.ha−1 in the second production year (2007) (ÚKZÚZ, 2007a [on-line]). In this experiment, the assortment of clover species involved also Kura clover (Trifolium ambiguum), a very rarely grown in central Europe which has not been registered in the Czech Republic yet. In our country, this species was studied in detail only by Vacek (1963) who reported that its height could be as much as 73 cm. As far as the requirements of this species were concerned, it showed a great plasticity and a wide ecological amplitude. Kura clover tolerated a higher level of groundwater, survived in fl oods (for as much as 7 days) and tolerated also periods of drought (due to the formation of smaller leaves). Its re-growth a er individual cuttings was relatively quick and it was also a suitable component of grazing mixtures. In Germany, the Kura clover was experimentally grown in mixtures with Alsike clover. However, as compared with an unfertilized variant of rye grass monoculture, its production of biomass was low. The quality of Kura clover forage was comparable with that of white clover (Gierus, 2012). Riday et al. (2012) (Wisconsin; USA) wrote that this was a fodder crop showing a great production potential and recommended it into grazing mixtures because it creates quickly a dense canopy. According to historical sources (Serdyukov, 1930), it is very preferred by sheep. Birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) tolerates wide amplitude of site conditions. Lotus species are adapted to many kinds of environmental stress, including fl ooding conditions, whereas other popular forage legumes, like alfalfa or white clover, cannot thrive (Striker et al., 2005). For that reason it can be grown above all in those localities where the basic ecological requirements of more demanding species of forage legumes are not satisfi ed. It requires full sunlight and if shaded by higher canopy, its growth and competitiveness are reduced. As far as yields are concerned, it is comparable with red clover (Regál, Krajčovič, 1963). Lotus yield levels are even better than lucerne and red clover ones on low fertile soil sites (Klesnil, 1978). The forage quality of birdsfoot trefoil is one of the best among perennial legumes and farm ruminants consume it very well. The process of lignifi cation is slower due to a great amount of leaves and a longer period of fl owering. Performance of farm animals fed on this forage species, above all the content of milk protein, is very good (Woodward, 2000). Within the period of three experimental years, production of dry matter of the birdsfoot trefoil stand ranged between 11.0 and 14.0 t.ha−1 (ÚKZÚZ, 2007b, ÚKZÚZ, 2006c, ÚKZÚZ, 2005b, [on-line]). MATERIAL AND METHODS A small-plot experiment with monocultures of individual forage legumes on arable land was established in the locality Troubsko in the middle of April 2008 in an altitude 277 m a.s.l. Average values of annual and growing-season (April–September) temperatures are 8.6 °C and 14.8 °C. The annual sum of precipitation and growing-season precipitation are 547 and 346 mm, respectively. Temperature average and sum of precipitation are presented in Tab. III for each month of each growing season. The comparison between measured data and climate normal was performed (Tab. III). Soil condition was orthic luvisol order and loam/clay loam soil texture. Agrochemical soil testing was performed before sowing (Tab. I). The experiment was established in four replications using the method of randomised blocks and the size of each plot (and harvested area) was 10 m2. A list of selected legumes involved in this experiment is presented in Tab. II. In each year, a dose of 35 kg P.ha−1 and 100 kg K.ha−1 was applied at the beginning of the growing season. The year 2008 was only the year of crop establishment and for that reason it involved only fi ve weed-killing cuttings. The weeds were regularly controlled by I: Agrochemical soil testing on locality Troubsko pH (KCl) P (mg.kg−1) K (mg.kg−1) Mg (mg.kg−1) N (%) Humus (%) 7.15 39 177 191 0.160 1.78 Yields and quality of forage legumes under imbalanced year precipitation conditions on south Moravia 219 hand extraction during production years. During three following production years (i.e. in 2009– 2011), fodder was harvested with a Hege 212 forage plot harvester; harvested fresh matter was weighed and samples for analyses were taken a er each cutting. In the fi rst and the third experimental year, the date of the fi rst cutting was determined on the base of phenological stages (i.e. at the beginning of butonisation). In the fi rst and the third year of production, the dates of the fi rst cutting were on 6 and 26 May, respectively. The following three cuttings were performed in time intervals of 45 days. In the second production year (2010), the fi rst cutting was performed, due to frequent and continuous rains in May, as late as on 11 June. To this date, nearly all species of forage legumes were at the end of the fl owering stage. In this year it was possible to perform only three cuttings and the time intervals between them could not be