Introduction of sulla into a multifunctional agrosystem in Tunisia

Northern sulla (Hedysarum coronarium L.) variety Bikra 21 was planted using two methods: direct seeding (DS) and conventional seeding (CS), with the aim of improving land with a 6% slope in northwestern Tunisia. Vegetation cover rates were 85% and 60% for DS and CS, respectively. Depending on the method of establishment, energy and protein yields varied from 2,100 to 5,120 UFL ha⁻ and 445 to 1,084 kg ha⁻ , respectively. Sulla established using CS yielded significantly higher yields. Under conventional planting conditions, the organic and nitrogen returns provided by sulla were estimated at 2.28 t ha⁻ and 110 kg ha⁻ , respectively. Physical and chemical analyses show a range of positive effects of sulla cultivation on certain physical and chemical parameters of the soil, such as organic matter content, nitrogen content, and structural stability. The calculation of the production cost of the UFL gives, under our experimental conditions, a cost of 0.073 DT/UFL for SC and 0.160 DT/UFL for SD. Keywords: Sulla Bikra21, direct seeding, conventional seeding, agro-system, physicochemical characteristics.