Lucerne persistence, yield and quality as influenced by stand aging

Abstract

The effects of a range of stand ages on lucerne were studied over three locations in Erzurum, Turkey. Dry matter yield, weed ratio, plant density and content of crude protein (CP), acid detergent fibre (ADF) and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) were determined in stands of different ages. Stand age reduced the dry matter yield and increased weed ratio and density. This yield reduction was from 5533 kg ha -1 (in the second year) to 3039 kg ha -1 (in the seventh year). Lucerne plant density was the highest (225.6 plants m -2 ) in the establishment year. It reduced in the subsequent years, while weed densities increased with stand age. Protein, ADF and NDF content in forage were strongly affected by increased stand age. In general, the crude protein content decreased, while ADF andNDF contents increased, with aging. The results of this study showed that lucerne persisted well for 6 years and produced high yields with low weed content under irrigated conditions in Erzurum.

Farklı Dozlarda Fosfor ve Zeolit Uygulamasının Yoncanın Kuru Madde Verimi ve Bazı Özelliklerine Etkileri

“…İkinci yılda ise verim önemli artış göstererek 1069.1 kg da -1 'a yükselmiştir (Çizelge 3). Yoncada en yüksek verimler ekimi takip eden ilk 4 yılda gerçekleşir (Çoruh ve Tan, 2008 Kuru madde verimi üzerinde fosfor ve zeolit interaksiyon olarak etkili olmamış fakat münferit olarak önemli etkiler yapmışlardır. İki yıllık ortalama sonuçlara göre en yüksek kuru madde verimleri fosforun 10-15 kg P2O5 da -1 ve zeolitin 150 kg da -1 dozlarında elde edilmiştir (Çizelge 3).…”

Improving Yield and Quality in Spring-Sown Alfalfa With Annual Companion Crops

“…These studies have been mostly performed at autumn-sown conditions and, intercropping studies for spring-sown alfalfa are relatively less. Alfalfa can be seeded at spring but, at this conditions, it produces very low yield at the establishment year and is also very sensitive to weed infestation (Coruh and Tan, 2008), which can lead to failure of stand. These restrictions in spring-sown alfalfa may be exceeded with intercropping but with proper crop choice and seed ratio.…”

Yoncanın Farklı Karışık Ekim Uygulamaları Altındaki Performansı

“…In contrast to leaves, stems exhibit low digestibility as a result of high concentrations of cell wall polysaccharides and lignin (Schnurra et al 2007). However, weak growth and weed infestation are important problems of alfalfa in the establishment year, which can be largely solved with the intercropping (Coruh and Tan 2008). Intercropping is cultivation of two or more crops simultaneously in same field has been widely applied due to its economic, ecological and environmental benefits (Whitmore and Schröder 2007) compared to sole cropping.…”

“…Alfalfa can be sown in spring, summer and early autumn when the temperature is consistently adequate (>3 o C) for germination. Alfalfa seeded in spring, when summer annual weeds and grasses grow more rapidly, weed control can be more difficult in alfalfa stand (Coruh and Tan 2008).…”