INFLUENCE DU STADE DE CROISSANCE SUR LE RENDEMENT, LA COMPOSITION CHIMIQUE ET LES RÉSERVES NUTRITIVES DU LOTIER CORNICULÉ

Abstract

A 3-year study on the stages of growth of birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) at harvest showed that the dry matter yield increased significantly, in the spring growth, with advance in maturity up to the midbloom stage. The highest annual yield was obtained, however, when birdsfoot trefoil was harvested at the full bloom stage both in the spring and summer growth. Maximum protein yield per unit of land was also obtained at the full bloom stage. In the spring forage, the percentages of crude protein, cell content, cell wall, lignocellulose, lignin, cellulose, ash and phosphorus and in the summer forage, the percentages of crude protein, lignocellulose, cellulose, ash and phosphorus decreased significantly with maturity. For all other constituents in both forages, the variations did not reach the level of significance. The accumulation of food reserves in the roots of birdsfoot trefoil in the fall was not influenced by the stages of growth at harvest.Key words: Lotus corniculatus L., growth stage, nutrient reserves, dry matter yield, forage quality, birdsfoot trefoil