This work aimed to compare Lotus spp. cultivars with different growth habits (L. corniculatus: cv. São Gabriel, semi-erect, cv. ARS2620, prostrate, and L. uliginosus: cv. Maku, decumbent), submitted to different height (4 - 8 cm) and cutting frequencies (15 d and 30 d), between the 95th and 233rd days old, grown in pot. Greater DM production (g. plant-1 of DM) was obtained under monthly cutting at 8 cm (Maku = 13.3; S. Gabriel = 11.5; ARS2620 = 7.3). Maku surpassed the others when intermediate levels (monthly cutting-4 cm; fortnighly cutting-8 cm) were used; harvests every 15 d and at 4 cm resulted in no difference among cultivars. The cv. ARS2620 showed the lowest height and the highest residual green canopy after defoliation. After the last cut, the cv. Maku overcame the other cultivars regarding crown diameter, DM of taproot, DM of soboles, DM of underground roots, and shoots. Lenient management favoured all the cultivars but they showed compensatory mechanism when they were submitted to intense and less frequent cutting or under frequent and less intense cutting. The three cultivars showed subterraneum stems of sobole type. The persistence of cv. S. Gabriel and the underground system of Lotus spp. were affected under intense and frequent cutting.
birdsfoot trefoil; management; production; survival
