Published in Scientific Papers. Series A. Agronomy, Vol. LXV, Issue 1
Written by Galina NAYDENOVA, Biser BOZHANSKI, Tatyana BOZHANSKA
The study was conducted in the Central Northern Bulgaria in order to establish some biological, morphological and qualitative characteristics of wild species of genus Medicago. Medicago arabica (annual species) and Medicago falcata (perennial species) have the highest share in grassland, with significant seasonal productivity and feed quality. Medicago arabica dominates in spring and Medicago falcata in summer. Medicago falcata fodder is the richest in protein (25.32%) and has the most favourable ratio of crude protein and crude fiber. Compared to other short-lived species, Medicago falcata has lower levels of minerals and calcium. The presence of the fast-growing, drought-resistant species Medicago minima and Medicago polymorpha may be associated with the observed spring and late droughts in the study areas. The concentration of crude fiber (38.39%), crude fat (4.94%), acid-detergent lignin (10.98%), calcium (2.97%) and phosphorus (0.33%) is predominant in the biomass of Medicago polymorpha. The dry matter of the species has the lowest in vitro digestibility (80.71%) and hemicellulose concentration (4.61%). Medicago arabica has the lowest content of crude fiber (25.09%) and the highest of crude ash (13.45%), and acid-detergent fiber (27.90%). Compared to Medicago polymorpha (38.39%), the fiber fraction in the composition of the species is 53.0% lower. Medicago minima and Medicago lupulina registered an insignificant difference in the values of the indicators characterizing the fiber components of the cell walls and in vitro digestibility of the dry matter. The species have a low content of ADL (6.24-6.26%) and the highest digestibility of dry matter (84.39-84.41%). Medicago minima has the lowest value for the amount of crude protein (19.86%) and the highest for the content of hemicellulose (11.82%).
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