The Effect of Different Growth Stages on Some Forage Quality Characters of the Leaf and Stem in Four Newly Developed Genotypes of Blue Melilot (Melilotus caeruleus (L.) Desr.)

This research was carried out in 2012-2014 on clay soil with pH 6.9 on the farm land of Malkara-Tekirdag in Turkey located at 40.0 °N, 26.0 °E, about 254 m altitude sea level, with a typical subtropical climate. The aim of this study was to determine some forage quality characteristics of stems and leaves in four newly developed genotypes of blue melilot at different growth stages. Four blue melilot genotypes (BG-1, BG-2, BG-3 and BG-4) were evaluated with mass selection. Higher leaf fresh yield (9.38 t ha) and leaf dry matter yield (3.44 t ha) were found in the BG-3 genotype, whereas its exhibited lower values than other genotypes for the stem fresh matter yield (0.80 t ha) and dry matter yield (0.31 t ha) at pre-bud growth stage. The CP, ADF, NDF, ADL, Ca, Mg, K and P contents in the leaves and stems of blue melilot genotypes were adequate for ruminant and non ruminant animals. NDF, ADF and ADL contents increase with the progress of blue melilot development both in the stem and leaf. The leaves are more abundantly supplied with minerals then the stem. The CP, Ca and P contents and fresh and dry matter yields of leaves in candidate genotype BG-3 blue melilot line was determined to be higher than other genotypes.