LUCERNAS ŠĶIRŅU VĒRTĒJUMS LOPBARĪBAS UN SĒKLAUDZĒŠANAS SĒJUMOS.

The aim of this study was to compare local and commonly available cultivars of lucerne in Latvian market for forage and seed production in the conditions of Latvia. The trials were conducted at the Institute of Agriculture in Skriveri (56°37 N and 25°07 E), the Latvia University of Agriculture (LLU), in the time period of 2014-2015. The results showed that there were no wintering problems for any lucerne cultivars included in our trials during favourable winter without lasting black frosts and rapid temperature fluctuations. If winter conditions were favourable, significantly higher dry matter yields (DMY) in the 1st year of use were provided by faster-growing cultivars: 'Gea' (10.98 t ha-1) and 'Eugenia' (11.13 t ha-1) in total in four cuts; as well as 'Malvina' (10.77 t ha-1), 'Birute' (10.50 t ha-1) and 'SK Rasa' (10.11 t ha-1) in total in three cuts. However, during unfavorable wintering conditions in the winter of 2014, significant damages for cultivars with the southern origin were observed. During two years higher and hence more stable dry matter yields on average were provided by the varieties: 'Malvina', 'Birute' and 'SK Rasa'. Lucerne cultivars of the southern origin had better regrowth intensity, they could provide additional mowing in the growing season, but in unfavourable conditions their wintering may be risky, especially in the north-east of Latvia. Under favorable climatic conditions lucerne varieties with self-pollinating properties provide high seed yields, i.e., more than 600 kg ha-1. Better results in our trials in terms of seed production were achieved by the varieties: 'Jogeva 118'; 'SK Rasa' and 'Skriveru'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]