T. alexandrinum vs T. resupinatum
Two cool-season multi-cut clovers, two different soils. Here's how berseem and Persian (shaftal) compare — and how to pick the right one for your market.
Quick take: berseem for irrigated ground · Persian for heavy/wet soils
Neither is universally better — it depends on your soil. Berseem (T. alexandrinum) gives the highest multi-cut forage yield on well-drained irrigated ground (~20% protein, 4–8 cuts). Persian/shaftal (T. resupinatum) is the specialist for heavy and waterlogged soils, with high waterlogging tolerance and ~21% protein. Many importers stock both to serve different farm conditions.
| Trait | Berseem | Persian / Shaftal |
|---|---|---|
| Botanical | T. alexandrinum | T. resupinatum |
| Type | Annual, multi-cut | Annual, multi-cut |
| Waterlogging | Prefers well-drained | High tolerance |
| Protein | ~20% | ~21% |
| Cuts | 4–8 | Multi-cut, rapid regrowth |
| Best soil | Irrigated, well-drained | Heavy / wet / irrigated |
| Best for | Max dairy forage yield | Wet-soil dairy & grazing |
Choose berseem if your customers farm well-drained, irrigated land and want maximum multi-cut green-fodder yield for dairy — it's the regional benchmark across Egypt, the Gulf and South Asia.
Choose Persian (shaftal) if fields waterlog or soils are heavy; Persian persists and regrows where berseem fails, making it the safer choice for high-water-table ground.
Stock both if you serve a mixed territory — it lets you match seed to each buyer's conditions and win more of the market. See berseem and Persian pages for full specs.
Send your species, quantity and destination port — we reply with a live FOB/CNF quote and the current-crop Certificate of Analysis.