Soil preferences, neighbor plants and feed values of birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) and narrowleaf birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus tenuis Waldst. & Kit.) grown in natural flora

In this study, soil preferences and plant species in which the they interacts as well as feed values of wild birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) and narrowleaf birdsfoot trefoil (L tenuis Waldst. & Kit.) species growing in natural flora of the Black Sea Region (Turkey) were studied. L. corniculatus was preferred to soils having higher lime (90.9 vs. 66.4 g kg-1, P=0.003), pH (7.41 vs. 7.14, P=0.001) and containing lower organic matter (20.0 vs. 26.8 g kg-1, P=0.001) compared to L. tenuis. L. corniculatus was neighbor to 89 different species (20.2% legume, 22.5% grass and 57.3% others), whereas L. tenuis was neighbor to 61 different species (41.0% legume, 19.7% grass and 39.3% others). The difference between two species in terms of the proportions of the neighbor families was significant (c2=10.814, P=0.004). Dominant plant species that grow in interaction with these Lotus species were Medicago lupulina, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, Cynodon dactylon, Lolium perenne and Plantago lanceolata. Dactylis glomerata was also neighbor with higher frequency to L. corniculatus. L. tenuis had higher phosphorus, metabolizable energy and relative feed value, and lower acid and neutral detergent fiber contents. As a result, in the artificial pastures establishments or the improvement of natural rangelands, species mentioned above which grow in harmony in natural environment and exhibit positive interaction with Lotus species of studied should be preferred