Evaluation of forage yield and quality of new vetch genotypes in climatic conditions of central Serbia

Abstract

Preservation of genetic variability is very important, especially due to climate change and the need to adapt agricultural production to new conditions. Institute for forage crops Kru{\v{s}}evac keeps a small collection of vetch genotypes (Vicia sativa L. and Vicia vilosa L.). Most genotypes are native to South Australia and the rest originates from Serbia. In Serbia, common vetch is cultivated as a feed for ruminants and can be grown for different purposes as a pure crop or in mixtures with cereals. The quality and yield of vetch green mass is very important for both purposes. A small-plot trial was carried out in 2018 and 2019, at the experimental plot of Institute for forage crops in Kru{\v{s}}evac, Serbia. Twelve promising genotypes of common vetch (Vicia sativa L.) were examined for green forage dry matter yield and green mass quality. The moment of green mass cutting, for each genotype, was at the stage of full flowering and the formation of the first pods. The following parameters of green mass were examined: forage dry matter yield (DMY), crude protein (CP), crude ash (CA), crude fiber (CF), crude fat (CF), as well as acid detergent fiber (ADF), and neutral detergent fiber (NDF). Significant variability was obtained for all tested traits, except for the fat and ash content. Investigations of genetic variability of common vetch can be a basis of further investigations and improvement of new cultivars with desirable characteristics.