Evaluating new grass-legume mixtures for pasture improvement in a semi-arid environment

In order to test new annual legumes recently available for pasture improvement in Mediterranean areas in mixture with some perennial grasses, an experimentation was carried out within the PERMED EU Project activity, in a private dairy sheep farm in Northern Sardinia. Three treatments were compared: 1) a COMPLEX grass-legume pasture mixture, based on 26 varieties belonging to 15 species 2) a SIMPLE grass-legume pasture mixture based on 5 species, including local cultivars and ecotypes, and one commercial variety and 3) an annual forage crop (AFC) based on a local mixture of oat and Italian ryegrass. The preliminary results evidenced difficulties in the establishment of most perennials for both mixtures and also of several annuals within the COMPLEX mixture. The SIMPLE mixture achieved a better control of the invasive unpalatable thistle (Sylibum marianum) in the early phases, a balanced composition between grasses and legumes in winter and a good spring growth. The AFC established rapidly, allowing early grazing in late autumn and winter and a strong competition against the invasive thistle.