Effects of Sowing Methods on the Quality and Quantity Traits of Three Annual Medicago Species

Annual Medicago species (Medicago spp.) are native to the Mediterranean region and widely used in fields and pastures in Iran. There are several methods of sowing annual Medicago species, each with different effects on the performance. However, there is currently no sufficient information about the appropriate methods for sowing Medicago species. In order to evaluate methods of sowing (broadcast planting and row planting) on qualitative and quantitative traits of three annual Medicago species (M. rigidula, M. polymorpha and M. scutellata), a 2-yr field study was conducted in Shiraz, Iran during the growing season 2010-2011. This study was carried out as a split plot experiment based on a randomized complete block (RCB) design with three replications. The results showed that there were no significant differences for most traits between the two years. Medicago planted in the row method had more root dry weight, ash, extract ether, natural detergent fiber (NDF) and nitrogen free extract (NFE). It was also demonstrated that shoot to root weight ratio, water content, organic matter, metabolic energy (ME) and digestibility (DE) were higher in Medicago plants that were planted by the broadcast method. All quantitative traits and ash of M. polymorpha were greater than those of the other two species. M. scutellata had higher percentage of organic matter, extract ether and crude fiber; M. rigidula also had a higher content of calcium, phosphorous, crude protein, NDF, NFE, ME and DE. Higher forage production was observed in M. polymorpha planted by the row method in both years, but this was especially evident in 2011. Overall, these results indicated that the row method was a more suitable method for planting M. polymorpha. Furthermore, broadcast planting was identified as a better method for planting M. scutellata and M. rigidula.