Resumen

OVALLE M., Carlos et al. Preliminary characterization of annual forage legumes collection for the Mediterranean area of Chile. Agric. Téc. [online]. 2003, vol.63, n.2, pp.156-168. ISSN 0365-2807.  http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0365-28072003000200005.

In the Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Agropecuarias (INIA), Centro Experimental Cauquenes (35º58` S lat; 72º17` W long), VII Region, phenologic and agronomic traits of 35 accessions and cultivars of annual legumes were evaluated. The species studied were Biserrula pelecinus (3 accessions), Medicago polymorpha (1), Ornithopus compressus (9), Ornithopus sativus (2), Trifolium isthmocarpum (1), Trifolium michelianum (7), Trifolium nigrescens (1), Trifolium pallidum (1), Trifolium resupinatum (4), Trifolium subterraneum (5), and Trifolium vesiculosum (1). The days from emergence to first flower ranged between 103 and 164 days. In Ornithopus spp. there was a great variation in precocity (103-143 days) and productivity (290-890 g DM m^-2). The precocity of the accessions of B. pelecinus were similar (132-137 days) and they all had a high seed production and total DM matter. In T. michelianum the precocity of the accessions ranged between 131 and 147 days. T. pallidum and T. vesiculosum were the latest with 164 and 160 days to first flower, respectively. Both species had a high dry matter production (> 900 g DM m^-2).. There are cultivars of B. pelecinus, O. compressus, T. michelianum, T. resupinatum and T. vesiculosum which presents high yield in both seed and phytomass, small size of seeds, high seminal hardness and high rate of reproductive effort, important attributes for plants that will be introduced in highly fluctuating environmental conditions and soils thatwith present severe limitations.

Palabras clave : annual legume pasture; dryland zone.