Sowed Pastures in the South-Eastern Romanian Plain

The objective of this study was the identification of the mixtures with elite traits to provide some high-quality fodders, in adequate quantity in the tilled areas sowed in large pastures. Previously, most farms in this area used to cultivate only alfalfa, which is the most important fodder crop in the area. Lately, pastures have been sown with mixtures of Graminaceae and Leguminous varieties, which have superior fodder values. This is possible as these varieties are better adapted to the natural conditions specific to the area. Three mixtures of perennial fodder varieties made of two Graminaceae crops (Dactylis glomerata andFestuca arundinaceea) and two leguminous crops (Medicago sativa and Trifolium repens-Ladino) were tested with different mixtures for the years 2016-2019. The results obtained in the first year of harvest (2016) characterised by the climatic conditions over the area showed that the average medium annual production of the three mixtures reached the value of 88.7 t/ha, and this was same as the yield obtained by only alfalfa fodder crop (M. sativa). The highest yield was achieved with the first two harvests resulting over 60% of the total yield. The non-uniformity of the climatic factors during the vegetation period leads to a non-uniform distribution of the yield on reapings. Also, the yield obtained with the the third mixture was low (84 t/ha) as a consequence of the lower adjustment capability of white trefoil (T. repens) to the droughty climatic conditions.