"Evaluting Physiological Adaptations and Yied Performances of Fave Leguminous Cover Crops in Semi Arid Condition of Algeria"

Abstract

Forage legumes are produced to meet the quantitative and qualitative needs of ruminant food; as they are considered the richest in total nitrogenous matter, this study assesses the physiological traits and yield performance of five leguminous cover crops—Sefrou forage pea, Messire proteaginous pea, Vicia narbonensis (vetch), Lathyrus ochrus, and Beni Mstina faba bean—in the semi-arid highlands of Sétif, Algeria. Conducted during the 2021-2022 season at Boutaleb, this research aims to identify varieties with resilience to water and thermal stress under low-rainfall conditions (323.2 mm cumulative). The results indicate a significant variability in the tolerance capacity of the tested varieties the local weather condition, the protein pea gave a rate of (53.66%) plant emergence, the Lathyrus had reached (55cm) of height, biomass production (PF 175.26 and PS 16.16) g/m2, relative water content, and leaf area. The Sefrou variety demonstrated high biomass yield, while Lathyrus ochrus achieved optimal germination and height. Vetch exhibited the greatest leaf area (49 cm²) and highest relative water content (76.14%), signifying robust drought tolerance. The faba bean gave the highest specific weight of leaves by (0.04g/m2).the effect of membrane stability index was good for all tested varieties. This study underscores the potential of leguminous crops in semi-arid agriculture, providing insights for sustainable forage crop selection to enhance productivity and ecosystem stability in similar environments.