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Analysis of behaviour and chemical composition within several local populations of Medicago sativa L. (Fabaceae) in hyper-arid region of south-western Algeria
Abstract
As part of the assessment and valorisation of plant genetic resources of fodder and pastoral interest in Algeria, a study of the behaviour and chemical composition of seven local populations of Medicago sativa L. (El-menea, Tamentit, Temacine, Timimoun, El Guerrara, Aoulef, In Ghar) was carried out at the INRAA station in Adrar (hyper-arid region). The experimental design was a randomized complete block design with three replications. Sixteen variables relating to the growth and chemical composition of the populations were taken into account (seedling emergence date (SE), maximum height of plant (MH), beginning date of flowering stage (BF), weight of green matter (GM), weight of dry matter (DM), mineral matter (MM), organic matter (OM), crude cellulose (CC), total nitrogenous matter (TNM), phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca), acid detergent fibre (ADF), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), lignin (ADL), true cellulose (TC) and hemicelluloses (HC)). Three ecological factors (altitude, rainfall, temperature), characterising the different provenance regions of the populations, were also taken into account. Analysis of variance identified six significant variables (SE, BF, MM, ADL, OM and P). The correlation matrix highlighted numerous relationships among the variables. The ecological factors of the populations’ origin environment, considered either separately or together, appear to influence certain parameters (BF, GM, DM, P). The altitude would have a highly significant influence on the plant’s phosphorus (P) content (negative correlation), making it the only ecological factor influencing the chemical composition of local populations of perennial alfalfa. Principal component analysis identified three population groups, thereby broadening the range of options for underutilised or little-known local populations. This will encourage farmers and livestock breeders to increase the multiplication of local seeds, thereby boosting fodder production and livestock farming, and consequently helping to improve the standard of living in rural communities, particularly in Saharan areas
