Trifolium alexandrinum

Berseem, Egyptian clover

A vigorous true clovers resistant to alkaline soils, usually cultivated under irrigation for pasture, green fodder and silage. One of the most important legumes of the Near East and the Mediterranean. Very palatable. May be cut several times a season and produces heavy yields under favourable conditions. The succulent stems are, however, difficult to dry because of their high water content, and the leaves drop off very easily in the dry state. The highest yield of protein with a relatively low yield of fibre obtained by cutting the plant at a height of about 40 cm. Valued for its rapid growth in the cooler winter season in the subtropics and for its good recovery after cutting. Up to six cuttings can be taken from the Miscari variety under irrigation; one or two cuttings can be taken from the Fahl variety on dry land. The herbage quality is good, and cultivation improves the soil nitrogen status. Tolerant of soil alkalinity and salinity.

As % of dry matter

DM

CP

CF

Ash

EE

NFE

Ca

P

Ref

Fresh 9 weeks,

India

26.7

14.9

15.6

3.0

39.8

1.48

0.31

436

Fresh 12 weeks,

India

21.5

20.6

14.3

2.6

41.0

1.54

0.24

"

Fresh 15 weeks,

India

17.3

24.2

12.9

1.8

43.8

"

Fresh 18 weeks,

India

16.9

22.7

14.9

1.8

43.7

2.58

0.18

"

Fresh 24 weeks,

India

15.8

28.5

16.0

1.4

38.3

2.01

0.20

"

Fresh, first cutting,

irrigated, 4 weeks,

Israel

10.9

22.0

22.9

19.3

2.8

33.0

2.39

0.37

365

Fresh, 2nd cutting,

irrigated, 4 weeks,

Israel

12.2

22.1

22.1

19.7

3.3

32.8

2.38

0.25

"

Fresh, 3rd cutting,

irrigated, 4 weeks,

Israel

9.1

22.0

20.9

17.6

4.4

35.1

2.31

0.33

"

Fresh, 4th cutting,

irrigated, 4 weeks,

Israel

11.9

20.2

23.5

18.5

3.4

34.4

2.18

0.25

"

Fresh, 5th cutting,

irrigated, 4 weeks,

Israel

13.6

20.6

26.5

16.2

2.9

33.8

1.99

0.29

"

Fresh aerial part,

Chile

17.4

22.6

20.3

18.9

4.0

34.2

1.62

0.33

315

Hay, good quality,

Israel

90.4

16.6

26.2

11.1

2.4

43.7

1.31

0.21

365

Hay, medium quality,

Israel

89.5

12.4

36.1

8.6

2.5

40.4

"

Digestibility (%)

Animal

CP

CF

EE

NFE

ME

Ref

Fresh, first cutting

Sheep

79.0

72.0

61.0

82.0

2.46

365

Fresh, 2nd cutting

Sheep

80.0

60.0

63.0

83.0

2.39

"

Fresh, 4th cutting

Sheep

75.0

64.0

64.0

72.0

2.26

"

Fresh, 5th cutting

Sheep

76.0

50.0

49.0

78.0

2.22

"

Hay, good quality

Sheep

73.0

61.0

51.0

70.0

2.30

"

Hay, medium quality

Sheep

60.0

47.0

53.0

65.0

1.99

"

Nylon bag degradability

a

b

c

12hr

48hr

Ref

(%)

(%)

(/hour)

(%)

(%)

3-4 weeks (early)

DM

21.9

68.8

0.0723

61.8

88.6

631

N

5.7

90.3

0.0651

54.7

92.0

"

3rd young stage (late)

DM

24.3

59.4

0.0696

57.9

81.6

"

N

38

58.5

0.0535

65.7

92.0

"

[P (rumen degradability at time t) = a+b*(1-exp(-c*t))]