A Review of Forage and Seed Yield and Quality Related Traits in Sainfoin (Onobrychis spp.)

Sainfoin (Onobrychis spp.) is an important forage legume that has been cultivated in temperate regions of the northern hemisphere for centuries. Besides its potential to provide required protein to livestock through nutritional superiorities, sainfoin provides ecosystem services via reducing the enteric methane release from ruminants (reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the animal production systems), synthetic nitrogen dependency through biological nitrogen fixation, and erosion with perennial and strong root systems. In addition to all these attributes, sainfoin has recently been selected as an alternative perennial pulse crop and is currently under domestication. Success in breeding pulse crops or utilizing them as a dual-use grain and forage would require the effective evaluation of yield and quality properties of genetic resources. This review aims to compile information on sainfoin seed and forage yield potential, as well as quality parameters, through an evaluation of previous literature.