What are the varieties and types of alfalfa?

Among feed crops, alfalfa has the longest cultivation history, the widest cultivation range, the largest planting area, the earliest breeding time and the most cultivated varieties. According to preliminary statistics, there are about 350 varieties bred in the world, of which more than 200 cultivated varieties in the United States have been approved for production registration, which has promoted the development of alfalfa industry.

Tracing back to the source, alfalfa varieties originated from Vla konya, Provence, Cossack, Ladakh and Turkestan alfalfa. After introduction, population improvement, comprehensive variety, intraspecific hybridization and strain hybridization, a series of excellent varieties were derived and cultivated.

1. konya alfalfa.

In Germany, a cold-resistant hybrid alfalfa (M.varia) was formed by natural hybridization between alfalfa and local wild yellow clover. 1875, W.Grimm, a German immigrant, was brought from his hometown to the United States for farming. After years of cultivation and breeding, a cold-resistant variety Grimm( 19 10) was formed, which was popularized in northern states of the United States. 1908 introduction and cultivation of green alfalfa in Canada. Grimm45 1, Grimm666, Beaver, Ferax, etc. were derived and cultivated after introduction and propagation in North America.

2. Provence hybrid alfalfa

In France, alfalfa naturally crosses with local yellow clover to form a cold-resistant hybrid alfalfa. Through further cultivation and reproduction, Provence was bred in France, Melboro and Huldt. Rivers in Australia.

3. Cossack alfalfa

Cold-tolerant mixed-flower alfalfa was formed in the grasslands of southeastern Europe in the former Soviet Union. At the end of 19, a series of fine varieties such as Ranger, Vernal, Ramble522, 525 and Titan were introduced to the United States by V.Willians. WL202 and WL2 10 were bred by selection and hybridization with Ladakh alfalfa imported from Kashmir, Asia and Turkestan alfalfa imported from Turkey.

IV. Flemish. alfalfa

An early-maturing and cold-resistant alfalfa formed in France. On this basis, European varieties such as Flemish, Dupuy, Alpha and Maga have been cultivated. A series of Flemish alfalfa varieties such as Glacier, Suranak, Anchor, Warrior and Angus have been cultivated in North America. These ancient alfalfa types and varieties not only played an important role in early alfalfa production and animal husbandry, but also remained the most basic genetic resources for alfalfa breeding, which had an important impact on modern alfalfa breeding. Only from 1987 to 199 1 year, the United States promulgated 15 alfalfa varieties, such as Alfagraze, WL45, WL323, Ok49, 5472, 5373 and 531year.

China has a long history of introducing and planting alfalfa from the western regions. Under the ecological and natural conditions in different regions, many local varieties adapted to local cultivation have been formed after long-term cultivation and selection. According to Cao Zhizhong's research (1995), China's local varieties can be roughly divided into seven types: oasis ecotype in southern Xinjiang, loess plateau ecotype, Wei Fen valley ecotype, North China plain ecotype, Mongolian plateau ecotype, North Jiangsu plain ecotype and Songnen plain ecotype. Since 1950s, conventional breeding methods have been adopted on the basis of the above alfalfa types and local varieties. By 2002, China had bred 3 alfalfa varieties 1 a, including cultivated varieties 1 1 a, local varieties 18, wild cultivated varieties 1 a and imported varieties1a.