Characterization of Lotus spp. Grown in the Salado River Basin at Reproductive Stage and Evaluation of Trefoil Seed Chalcid (Bruchophagus platypterus) Damage

M.L. LOCATELLI, M.A. AON Y A.A. IGLESIAS

Lotus Newsletter

Año: 1998 vol. 29 p. 6 - 9

0316-0106

Evaluation on the production of different Lotusspp. grown at the level of an introduction garden in our Institute was previously presented (Remis et al., 1995;Locatelli et al., 1997). The introduction garden is located in the so called Salado River Basin, in Chascomús County,close to the Chascomús Pond (latitude: 35º 35' South; longitude: 58º 00' West). The region mainly dedicates to beefand dairy cattle production by using a grazing system essentially based on natural grasslands, with a minor portion ofcultivated pastures. Soils in the area characterize by a high salinity and alkalinity, being poorly drained andperiodically exposed to waterlogged conditions. All these conditions significantly decrease persistence and yield ofcommon legume species in the region (Mazzanti et al., 1986), turning Lotus spp. as an important alternative for theuse as a forage. Aims of our studies are basically oriented to the evaluation of adaptability, of several Lotus spp., tothe soil and environmental conditions of the region and looking for the selection of species of the higher foragepotentiality. Our previous works (Remis et al., 1995; Locatelli et al., 1997) reported on different characteristics relatedwith the performance of Lotusspp. grown in the region and on variations of the nutritional quality of the forage throughout the year.