Unlocking the Potential of Lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) in Nepal: First-time Evaluation of Varietal Suitability for Herbage and Seed Production

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the adaptability and comparative production performance of different Lucerne varieties, ultimately recommending the best-suited variety for herbage and seed yield for the mid-hill regions of Nepal.
Methods: The experiment was conducted from October 2022 to July 2023 at research field of the National Pasture and Fodder Research Program (NPFRP) of Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC) Lalitpur, Nepal. A field trial was set up using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) design with five replications. Sowing was carried out on the 1st of October, and the three varieties tested were Stamina 5, Kaituna, and Torlesse.
Results: The results showed that plant height and leaf area index (LAI) were significant (p < 0.001) among the varieties, while all the yield attributes (plant height, LAI, stem number, and leaf numbers) were significant (p < 0.01) for cutting management. Among the evaluated varieties, Stamina 5 exhibited the highest productivity (39.98) t/ha herbage, 11.41 t/ha dry matter (DMY), and 34.8 kg/ha seed yield.
Conclusion: The preliminary findings indicated that all three Lucerne varieties adapted well to mid-hill conditions with the Stamina 5 variety showing the best suitability and performance in the mid-hill regions of Nepal.