The study comprised a comparative evaluation of 29 accessions of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) in the control nursery and 21 accessions in the competitive nursery versus the standard cultivar Damu-12 during cropping seasons of 2023–2025 in Turkestan Region, Kazakhstan. Among the 29 accessions tested in the control nursery, 11 accessions (M-2515, M-2520, M-2521, M-2532, M-2579, M-2584, M-2587, M-2588, M-2562, M-2572, and M-2589) significantly exceeded the standard cultivar Damu-12 in green and dry matter yields. These accessions excelled the standard genotype by 110.2%–115.5%, achieving dry hay and green mass yields of 22.7–23.8 t/ha and 127.1–131.9 t/ha, respectively. In the competitive nursery with 21 accessions, 11 accessions (M-2572, M-2584, M-2532, M-2566, M-2537, M-2522, M-2579, M-2552, M-2582, M-2881, and M-2545) revealed the highest green and dry mass yields. Their green and dry mass yields outperformed the standard cultivar Damu-12 by 110.2%–122.9%. Cluster analysis categorized the accessions into three distinct groups: Cluster 1 (high-yield intensive type), Cluster 2 (high forage quality and dry matter), and Cluster 3 (stable/low performance). Clusters 1 and 2 were distinct as primary genetic resources for developing transgressive hybrids that combine rapid biomass accumulation with enhanced nutritional values.
Alfalfa (M. sativa L.), breeding nursery, competitive varietal testing, stem height, leafiness, green mass yield, dry matter yield
The relevant study identified the high-yielding irrigated alfalfa (M. sativa L.) genotypes through control and competitive nurseries. These promising accessions can be useful in future breeding programs for developing high-yielding cultivars for the Turkestan Region, Kazakhstan.