Production performance and persistence of ten introduced alfalfa varieties

A field survey on 2years and 6years alfalfa pasture was conducted to compare the production performance and persistence of ten introduced varieties in the Kunming regions by measuring the productive and nutritional parameters. The results of this study showed that the yield, height, leaf to stem ratio, crude protein content, crude fat content and crude ash content of GT13R and Archer II varieties were significantly higher than those of other eight varieties, and the crude fiber content of GT13R and Archer II varieties was significantly lower than that of other eight varieties for 2years and 6years alfalfa pasture（P＜0.05). The yield and nutritional quality of ten alfalfa varieties decreased as the growth time increased from 2 years to 6 years and the decrement of Arriba and 13R Supreme was the most. The Grey Relational Analysis results showed that the GT13R and Archer II performed well from yield and persistence and were suitable for planting in the Kunming regions, and the Archer, Arriba, Abilence +2 and 13R Supreme showed a poor production performance and persistence and were unsuitably used to establish the perennial artificial pasture in the north subtropical zone of Yunnan, which would provide useful information for introducing alfalfa varieties in the southern China.