Nasim, A New Red Clover Cultivar

Authors

Abstract

Red clover (Trifolium pretense) has wide adaptability to different soil and climatic conditions, and suitable digestibility of forage compared to the other clover species. New red clover cultivar, Nasim, was primarily selected from clover germplasm received from Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the United Nations, in Seed and Plant Improvement Institute, Karaj, Iran. Agronomic and yield trails were carried- out in Karaj, Shahr-e-kord, Arak, Gorgan, Sanandaj, Kermanshah. This clover cultivar has the potential to increase the productivity and production of forage in the country. Nasim cultivar is a prennial and late maturing clover (4-5 cuts season-1) which can produce forage during whole growing season and is also suitale component in short-term crop rotation systems. Nasim cultivar is tolerant to powdery mildew and other fungal diseases and pests as well as cold. Nasim performance was excellent in agronomy and yield trails with 60-90 t ha-1 fresh forage and 12-15 t ha-1 dry forage yields.