Effects of early cutting time and stubble height on yield and quality in lucerne

Abstract

Lucerne is consumed not only as hay, but it is also used as the raw material of concentrated food for livestock. This study investigated the effects of four cutting times (20, 40, 60 cm tall and at the beginning of flowering) and three stubble heights (base, 5 and 10 cm) on the dry matter (DM) and nitrogen (N) yields, the N content of tops, and nonstructural carbohydrate (NSC) in roots of lucerne. The experiment was a 4 x 3 factorial in a randomised complete block design with four replications carried out at the Research Station of Agricultural Faculty, Ataturk University, in 1996 and 1997. The N content decreased while the DM and N yields of top and NSC content of the roots increased as the cutting height, and consequently plant maturity, increased. The lower stubble heights increased the DM and N yields, but they decreased the NSC contents in roots. Therefore, the highest DM yield (12 660 kg ha -1 ) was taken when lucerne was harvested at the beginning of flowering and cut from the base.

Effects of cutting height on shoot regrowth and forage yield of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) in a short‐term cultivation system

“…Sprouting of more buds from the crown would consume more NSC in roots during the early period of regrowth after defoliation (Jiang HX, Shen YX, Zhai GY unpublished data), as suggested by Yolcu et al . (). However, cutting to the ground surface did not have an adverse effect on bud growth under fertilization and irrigation.…”

“…The lower cutting heights increased dry matter and N yields of alfalfa, but they decreased the content of non‐structural carbohydrate (NSC) in roots, which may cause a reduction in forage yield in successive years (Yolcu et al . ).…”

“…Cutting height is an important consideration in the management of forage production systems, as it has crucial effects on regrowth rate, yield and quality, and persistence of forage plants (Tudsri et al 2002;Wadi et al 2004;Yolcu et al 2006). Studies on phasey bean (Macroptilium lathyroides (L.) Urb.…”

“…Meuriot et al (2004) estimated that the depletion of C and N reserve in taproot was partly offset by the supply of C and N from the stubble, which improved winter survival and persistence of alfalfa. However, studies in the field have shown that the highest yield of alfalfa was obtained with harvests to the ground surface (Yolcu et al 2006), and clipping to 10 cm increased weed invasion and depressed plant size and shoot number (Belesky and Fedders 1997). A study in the coastal area of Hangzhou Gulf, China (Sun and Zhang 1991) found that cutting alfalfa close to the ground surface enhanced the frequency of bud growth from the basal position due to greater hormone synthesis.…”

“…A study in the coastal area of Hangzhou Gulf, China (Sun and Zhang 1991) found that cutting alfalfa close to the ground surface enhanced the frequency of bud growth from the basal position due to greater hormone synthesis. The lower cutting heights increased dry matter and N yields of alfalfa, but they decreased the content of non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) in roots, which may cause a reduction in forage yield in successive years (Yolcu et al 2006).…”