Effect of Date and Frequency of Defoliation on Yield and Quality of Alfalfa

Abstract

In two experiments established in 1950 and 1953, Rhizoma and Grimm alfalfa, each in a simple mixture with timothy, were subjected to seven cutting schedules in the first 2 harvest years. In the third year all plots were cut on tune 15 to determine the effect of the differential defoliation in the preceding years. The two varieties were not significantly different in five of the six seasons but after a winter of severe icing in 1953 Rhizoma outyielded Grimm. The yields of the alfalfa component in the third year tended to decrease with an increase in the number of harvests in the previous years. Protein yield per acre increased with an increase in the number of clippings. The results indicated that highest yields of alfalfa will be maintained by avoiding defoliating between August 15 and October 15.

Response of Tap- and Creeping-Rooted Alfalfas to Defoliation Patterns

“…All other cultivars were intermediate, with no differences among them. Folkins et al (1961) reported that the yield of creeping-rooted Rhizoma was not significantly different from that of tap-rooted 'Grimm' over 5 years. Irvine and McElgunn (1982) reported that yields of tap-rooted 'Beaver' alfalfa were not significantly different from yields of creeping-rooted Roamer.…”

Effects of Early Summer and Fall Cutting Management on Dry Matter Yields, Digestibility, Crude Protein, and Survival of Saranac and Narragansett Alfalfas

“…Removal of the first cut at bud ments, average CP in cuts 2 and 3 was 14]9-stage with two, subsequent harvests at the early 77 .3 and li 3-19.4, respectively. IVD was bloom stage also allowed a total of three har- 54.5-60.7 in crft 2 and s6.0-aq.4 in cut 3. vests before early September Twamley (1960) recommended two to three cuts of alfalfa during the summer before the fall rest period. Folkins et al (1961), Langille et al (L965), and Gasser and Lachance (1969) In vitro digestibility of DM of alfalfa was determined from separate freczedried samples, using the method of rilley and rerry (1963) For personal use only. Langille et al (1965) and Gasser and Lachance (1969).…”