MART-AZR Project Research Report 21: Introduction, Selection and Evaluation of Annual Sown Forage Legumes under Continental Mediterranean Climatic Conditions in Pakistan

Abstract

The upland areas (>1000 m) of Baluchistan Province of Pakistan experiences a continental semi-arid Mediterranean climate. The dominant farming system is the production of range-fed small ruminants which have substantially increased in numbers recently. As a result, excessive overgrazing of rangelands have occurred and periods of acute feed deficit are recurrently experienced. In an attempt to provide additional animal feed from dryland forage crops to meet these periods of deficit, annual sown forage legumes have been tested for adaptability to the harsh and variable environmental conditions experienced. Vicia villosa ssp. dasycarpa has proved to be hyper-cold tolerant and relatively productive when sown in autumn at elevations above 1300 m. Autumn sowing in warmer locations « 1300 m) favors the production of v. ervilia When spring planting is the only available option to farmers. production is generally much lower and V. villosa and Lathyrus sativus appear to be the most productive species.