Chetak (S-244): This is a variety developed by IGFRI, Jhansi through single plant selection from local material of Mathura and released in 1975. The variety is suitable for cultivation in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat. The plant height is 70–90 cm with dark green foliage and light purple flowers. It has quick regeneration capacity with resistance to aphids. It yields 140–150 t/ha green fodder. (CVRC-Notification no. 441(E) dated 21st August 1975).
Lucerne (As a kind): This is a state variety notified by CVRC. (CVRC-Notification no. 441(E) dated 21st August 1975).
Sirsa Type 9: This variety is released in 1975 by Fodder Research Station, Sirsa. It is a quick growing variety with deep green foliage. Its yield potential is about 80–85 t/ha of green fodder and 0.25 to 0.45 t/ha seed. It is most suitable for growing in north India particularly Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh where cold temperature prevails. (CVRC-Notification no. 440(E) dated 21st August 1975).
Sirsa-8: This is a variety developed by Fodder Research Station, Sirsa and released in 1975. The variety is suitable for northern India where cold temperature prevails. (CVRCNotification no. 13 dated 19th December 1978).
Type-9: The variety was developed by Fodder Research Station, Sirsa by mass selection and released in 1978. The plants are vigorous, quick growing, slender stalks, foliage dark green, leaflets long with toothed margins, flowers bluish purple, seeds kidney shaped and yellow coloured. This is suitable for northern India where cold temperature prevails (CVRCNotification no. 13 dated 19th December 1978).
Co-1: The variety was developed by TNAU, Coimbatore through mass selection from Coimbatore local collections. The variety is recommended for cultivation in Tamil Nadu. It has high (20%) protein and the green forage yield is 80–90 t/ha. This is a perennial cultivar which can be maintained successfully for three years. (CVRC-Notification no. 19(E) dated 14th January December 1982).
GAUL-1 (Anand-2): The variety was developed by Gujrat Agricultural University, Banaskantha, through selection from perennial type Lucerne grown in Bhuj area of Kutch region of Gujrat. The green forage yield is 80–100 t/ha. It is suitable for cultivation in Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Yield is 70–80 t/ha green fodder in 10–12 cuts/ years and 0.2–0.3 t/ha seed. (CVRC-Notification no. 596(E) dated 13th August 1984).
GAUL-2 (SS-627): This is a selection from Sirsa material by GAU, Banaskantha. It has been recommended for cultivation in whole Gujarat but has been found more suitable for northern Gujarat. The plants are tall and provide 10 to 12 cuttings in a year with 80–100 t/ha green fodder.
LL Composite 5: The variety was developed by PAU, Ludhiana by selection from 125 downy mildew resistant clones from Kutch and released in 1981 for cultivation in Punjab. It gives 8 cutting up to first week of July and has a yield potential about 70–75 t/ha fodder and 0.3–0.5 t/ha seed. (CVRC-Notification no. 596(E) dated 13th August 1984).
LL Composite 3: The variety was developed at PAU, Ludhiana from twenty clones selected from fast growing, high yielding and downy mildew resistant germplasm collected from Gujrat state. It was released in 1985 for cultivation. It is resistant to lodging and frost and provides 38–40 t/ha green fodder and 0.30–0.35 t/ha seed. (CVRC-Notification no. 540(E) dated 24th July 1985).
Lucerne no. 9-L: This variety was developed at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. It is a quick growing variety with deep green foliage, slender stalks and purple flowers. It grows well for a period of 5–7 years. Its yield potential is about 75 t/ha of green fodder/year. It yields 55–60 t/ha of green fodder up to July during the first year.
NDRI Selection No.1: It has thick roots which penetrate deep into soil. It is a selection from material from Saurashtra and Kutch by NDRI, Karnal. It has turgid stems. The leaves are smaller in size as compared to other Lucerne varieties. This variety has the capacity of maintaining itself in its pure stands over 5–6 years without getting degenerated due to the infestation of weeds. The crop is ready for first cut after 60–70 days of sowing. Its green fodder yield potential is about 100 t/ha.
Anand-3: The variety has been developed by AAU, Anand. It is an annual type, suitable for cold dry zone of Kinnaur and Lahaul & Spiti districts of Himachal Pradesh. It provides 40 t/ha green fodder. (CVRC-Notification no. 408(E) dated 4th May 1995).
RL-88: The variety was developed by MPKV, Rahuri through selection from local collections from Ahmednagar, Maharashtra. The variety has been recommended for cultivation for year round irrigated situation in all zones of the country. This first cut of the crop can be taken in 50–60 days of sowing and thereafter cut can be taken at 25–30 days. The variety is resistant to major diseases and pests and yields 75–100 t/ha green fodder in 11 cuts. (CVRC-Notification no. 1(E) dated 1st January 1996).
Anand Lucerne-3 (AL-3): The variety was developed at AAU, Anand through pure line selection and population improvement of the material collected from Kutch area of Gujrat. The plants have profuse tillers (47/plant). It is perennial type with dark green foliage and oblong leaves. The green fodder yield is 97 t/ha and seed yield 3.0 q/ha. (CVRC- Notification no. 454 (E) 11th February 2009).
