The new high-yielding alfalfa variety Zhongclover 4 was validated by the National Grass Variety Validation Committee in 2011 and registered as a breeding variety. The new variety has the advantages of high yield, fast regeneration, large leaf volume, more branches and high adaptability. The results of the variety comparison test of the new high-yielding alfalfa variety Zhongclover No. 4 in our test site in Beijing showed that the hay yield reached 1083.7 kg/mu on average in three years and 1158.6 kg/mu in the third year of sowing, which was 10.1-14.9% higher than Zhongclover No. 2. The results of Zhongclover No. 4 alfalfa in Beijing Shunyi trial site showed that the three-year yield of Zhongclover No. 4 alfalfa reached 1094.2 kg/mu on average level, which was 11.0%-13.1% higher than that of Zhongclover No. 2, and the variety showed better productivity and adaptability in Beijing. The regional trial of Zhongclover No. 4 in Nanpi of Hebei showed that the yield of this variety reached significant difference compared with Zhongclover No. 2 for three consecutive years, and its hay yield reached 1034.6 kg/mu on average during the three years perios, which was 9.6%-11.3% higher than that of Zhongclover No. 2. This variety contains 19.68% crude protein in the dry matter at the first flowering stage, and can be mowed four to five times a year in the Yellow Huaihai region, with hay yield of 15,000 kg/hm2 ~ 18,000 kg/hm2, suitable for modulating hay and silage. The variety has been planted in large areas in Hebei, Shandong, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Shanxi, Tianjin and other provinces and regions.
