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Clovers (Trifolium L.)

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Part of the book series: Current Plant Science and Biotechnology in Agriculture ((PSBA,volume 39))

Abstract

Natural grasslands that contain a range of Trifolium species are an important source of forage in most countries of the Mediterranean basin (Russi et al., 1992). Trifolium species are also exploited in ley-farming systems, for which T. subterraneum cultivars have proved particularly successful because they are adapted to a wide variety of climatic and edaphic conditions (Ewing, 1996). Several species of Trifolium are cultivated in intensive agricultural systems in association with companion grass species in simple or complex seeds mixtures. A survey of 99 research stations (Russell and Webb, 1976) revealed that Trifolium species are among the most valuable forage legumes in all parts of the world, except the tropics. In temperate areas, Trifolium species are important nitrogen fixers, improving the quality of pasture in both natural and cultivated grassland. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) typically out-yields clovers on an annual basis when harvested for hay, but clovers have a wider natural and cultivated distribution (Keuren and Hoveland, 1985).

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Lamont, EJ., Zoghlami, A., Hamilton, R.S., Bennett, S.J. (2001). Clovers (Trifolium L.). In: Maxted, N., Bennett, S.J. (eds) Plant Genetic Resources of Legumes in the Mediterranean. Current Plant Science and Biotechnology in Agriculture, vol 39. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-9823-1_4

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