Selection and Utilization of Cultivated Fodder Trees and Shrubs in the Mediterranean Region
1999
Papanastis, V.P. (Aristotle University, Thessaloniki (Greece). Laboratory of Range Science) | Tsiouvaras, C.N. (NAGREF, National Agricultural Research Foundation, Thessaloniki (Greece). Forest Reseach Institute) | Dini-Papanastasi, O. (NAGREF, National Agricultural Research Foundation, Larissa (Greece). Fodder Crops and Pastures Institute) | Vaitsis, T. (Università degli Studi di Palermo (Italy). Istituto di Agronomia Generale e Coltivazioni Erbacee) | Cereti, C.F. (Università degli Studi della Tuscia, Viterbo (Italy). Dipartimento di Produzione Vegetale, Sezione di Agroecosistemi) | Dupraz, C. (INRA, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Montpellier (France). Laboratoire d'Ecophysiologie des Plantes sous Stress Environmentaux) | Armand, D. (INRA, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Montpellier (France). Unité d'Ecodéveloppement) | Meuret, M. (INRA, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Montpellier (France). Unité d'Ecodéveloppement) | Olea, L. (Junta de Extremadura, Badajoz (Spain). Servicio de Investigación y Desarrollo Tecnológico)
Cultivated fodder trees and shrubs can grow in dry and marginal areas of the Mediterranean region and provide invaluable feed to livestock during the long and dry summer period and mid-winter when herbaceous plants are dormant. The object of this project was to study the genetic potential of highly productive, mainly leguminous species, their adaptation and performance in different ecological environments and production systems, and the application of modern techniques for their establishment and grazing management. Seventeen species were tested in which a great variability in morphological, growth and nutritional characters was found. Productivity was found to be affected by the particular species or cultivar involved, the environmental conditions and the age of plants. It is concluded that fodder trees and shrubs are important strategic forage resources for stabilizing productivity and reducing the cost of livestock production systems in the Mediterranean region.
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