ABSTRACT
Varietal comparison of three species of genus Lotus (L. corniculatus L., L. uliginosus Cav. y L. tenuis Wald et Kit.) in soils with aptitude for cropping rice.

Hernán Acuña P.1
 

The productive perfomance and forage quality of eight varieties of three species of genus Lotus were compared at establishment year (1992/93) and at the first full harvest season (1993/94). The experiment was carried out in a clay soil located in Chillán, Chile. A randomized block design with four replicates and 2 x 5 m plots was used. The DM productivity was evaluated by cut (4 per growing season) at the 3 cm height. In 1992/93 the broad leaved varieties (L. corniculatus) El Boyero and Sn. Gabriel showedDMyield greater than 7 ton/ha. The "alfalfa chilota" varieties (L. uliginosus) yielded only 2 ton/ha and the variety Toba ofnarrow leaves (L. tenuis) yielded 6.3 ton/ha. In 1993/94 the DM yield were around 9 ton/ha for all the varieties. The narrow leaved varieties showed earlier growth than other species. Values for parameter offorage quality and concentrations ofN, P, K, Ca, Mg and Na in DM are reported.

Keywords: Lotus corniculatus, Lotus tenuis, Lotus uliginosus, productivity, herbage quality, N, P, K, Ca, Mg and Na concentrations.
1 Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias, Centro Regional Quilamapu, Casilla 426, Chillán, Chile. hacuna@inia.cl.