Effect of Cutting Height and Seed Cutting Date on Grain yield and Yield Components in Berseem Clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.)

Abstract In order to investigate the effect of cutting height and cutting date of seed on grain yield and yield components of berseem clover, a factorial experiment randomized complete block design with three replications was carried out in Ahvaz in 2014-2015. The experimental factors included seed cutting date in three levels (February 3, February 18 and March 5) and three levels of cutting height (2, 6 and 10 cm). The results showed that cutting height caused the significant increase ­ of grain yield, number of plants per m2, number of inflorescences per plant, and 1000-grain weight. The highest grain yield (68.95 g/m2) belonged to the treatment with the cutting height of 6 cm and the lowest grain yield (42.9 g/m2) belonged to cutting height of 2 cm. Moreover, seed cutting date also significantly increased grain yield and yield components. The highest grain yield by the mean of 75 g/m2 belonged to cutting date of February 18, and the lowest grain yield by 39.6 g/m2 belonged to cutting date of March 5. In general, cutting height of 6 cm and the cutting date of February 18 had the highest potential to achieve maximum yield in berseem clover.