Abstract
Considering the demand for fodder and berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum L) seed in Pakistan current field study was carried out to evaluate the influence of cutting intervals on fodder production, seed vigor, yield and income of three berseem varieties. The experiment was conducted at research area of Fodder Research Institute Sargodha, Pakistan during three winter seasons from 2015 to 2018. Split plot design comprising three main plot treatments of berseem varieties i.e. super late, Agaiti berseem, Punjab berseem/SB11 and subplot treatments of five last cutting dates (i.e., March, 10, 20 & 30 and April, 10 & 20) was adopted with three replications. The results showed significant variations in the period of flowering and yield attributes. It was noted that quality and production of seed reduced while the fodder tonnage increased with delay in last cut for fodder, thus last cut taken on 20th April resulted in more number of cuts and significantly higher green fodder yield but low seed yield and total income. Last cutting of Agaiti berseem taken on 10th March, Super late & Punjab Berseem cut on 20th March produced significantly higher number of seeds per head, seed yield, 1000 grain weight and number of tillers-m(-2). It was concluded that all three varieties gave optimum production (0.73-0.95 T-ha(-1)) of quality seed while taking the last cut between March, 10 & 20 with minimum temperature ranging from 8.66-22.33 degrees C, maximum temperature ranging from 25.91-39.79. and relative humidity ranged from 46.30 to 64.40%.