Study of productivity pattern over 3 years of some annual grass and legume fodders carried as pure and as mixture in rainfed cereal based system in Algerian semiarid area

In the aim to improve sustainability and resilience of fallow-wheat system highly vulnerable against climatic change (REFORMA Arimnet project), over the years 2012/2013, 2013/2014 and 2014/2015, 1 triticale, 1 oat (grass), 2 peas (tall and semi-dwarf), 1 common vetch and 1 Narbonne vetch varieties have been tested in a device mimicking a fodder - wheat rotation in a rainfed system. Elementary experimental plots of 12 m 2 each (6 pure, 8 doubles and 2 complexes) are divided into 4 blocks. The wheat is sown on a plot similar to that of the set of all fodder plots within each block. The measurements concerns dry biomass productivity and botanical composition. Results vary depending on weather conditions, particularly the rainfall total amount and its seasonal distribution. The spring rains appear having decisive effect on productivity whatever the annual amounts received. Productivity of hay appears higher in grasses relative to the legumes in pure, with an advantage for oats. Among legumes, erect pea distinguished itself by an interesting and somewhat fluctuating productivity during the years while the common vetch and Narbonne vetch recorded low results. Binary associations showed better yields than complex. In each of the two combinations, those containing triticale gave the best yields while combinations containing oats have experienced lower productivity but showed a better balance regarding the botanical composition. Wheat yields were variable and generally follow the amount of rain received. On the whole, it appears that the farms practicing this system can replace the nude fallow by a rainfed pure or association fodder culture which will strengthen their livelihoods and sustainability by fighting against soil erosion.