Quality and morphological characteristics of alfalfa as affected by soil moisture, pH and phosphorus fertilization

Petit, H.V.; Pesant, A. R.; Barnett, G.; Mason, Wesley; Dionne, J. L.

doi:10.4141/cjps92-015

Cited by 23 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 16 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Thus, the differences in digestibility and fiber in the present study and that of Petit et al (16) likely were due to plant maturity and/or morphology differences and not to direct effects on cell walls.…”

Section: Maturity and Qualitycontrasting

confidence: 60%

“…Petit et al (16) noted an increase in acid detergent fiber, acid detergent lignin, and stem length and a reduced leaf-to-stem ratio with increasing P fertilization of alfalfa grown in a cold (15°C day/9°C night) greenhouse environment but not in a warm (25°C/19°C) environment. Thus, the differences in digestibility and fiber in the present study and that of Petit et al (16) likely were due to plant maturity and/or morphology differences and not to direct effects on cell walls.…”

Section: Maturity and Qualitymentioning

confidence: 97%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Maturity and quality of alfalfa as affected by phosphorus fertility

Sanderson

1993

Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Environmental stresses adversely affect alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) forage quality through altered plant development; however, the effects of soil nutrient stress on forage quality are not well known. The objective of this study was to determine what effect low soil phosphorus (P) had on alfalfa forage quality. Three preplant incorporated rates of P (0, 29, or 59 kg/ha) followed by five topdressed (during each production year) rates of P (0, 7, 15, 29, or 59 kg/ha)were applied to alfalfa established in two experiments in fall of 1988 and 1989. At each harvest in 1989 and 1990, mean stage by weight (MSW) was determined and forage samples were taken for neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and in vitro true digestibility (IVTD) analysis. In the 0-to 15-cm soil layer, soil P concentrations averaged 6, 11, and 22 mg/kg of dry soil with 0, 29, and 59 kg P, respectively, incorporated. Soil P was not changed in the 15-to 30-cm soil layer. Alfalfa herbage increased in P concentration with increasing P fertility level at some, but not all, harvests analyzed. Alfalfa maturity at harvest and NDF concentration increased with increasing P fertilizer rate, whereas IVTD decreased. Differences among treatments in NDF and IVTD probably were due to differences in plant maturity.

show abstract

Section: Maturity and Qualitycontrasting

confidence: 60%

Section: Maturity and Qualitymentioning

confidence: 97%

Maturity and quality of alfalfa as affected by phosphorus fertility

Sanderson

1993

Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Legumes under water stress have greater leaf:stem weight ratio, delayed maturity, and often higher nutritive value in both the leaf and stem fractions compared to unstressed legumes (15). Nutritive value of alfalfa grown in semi‐dry soils with soil water between field capacity and wilting point is generally improved compared to alfalfa grown in soil between field capacity and 70% available water (16). In that study, alfalfa had decreased lignin and acid detergent fiber concentrations, and increased CP.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reducing Water Inputs with Subsurface Drip Irrigation May Improve Alfalfa Nutritive Value

Harmoney

Lamm

Johnson

et al. 2013

Forage & Grazinglands

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Irrigated alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is an important forage crop for western Kansas dairy producers. Concerns over decreasing groundwater supplies have prompted the need to develop more efficient methods of irrigation. We investigated the effects of a subsurface drip irrigation system at three levels of water inputs [70, 85, and 100% of plant evapotranspiration rates (ETr)] on resulting alfalfa production and nutritive value. Alfalfa was harvested at 0, 15, and 30 inches from established subsurface driplines within each of the three irrigation levels. Crude protein concentration and in situ dry matter disappearance, when found to be different at ETr and dripline distance combinations, tended to be greater at greater distances from the dripline and at the 70% ETr level. Fiber concentrations tended to be lower at greater distances from the dripline and at the 70% ETr level. Alfalfa yield was similar at all dripline distances and at all ETr levels in 2005 and 2007, but alfalfa yield was greater 0 inches from the dripline compared to 30 inches from the dripline in 2006. We conclude that alfalfa can be irrigated with subsurface drip systems at 70 or 85% ETr without sacrificing yield or forage nutritive value.

show abstract

“…In contrast, Petit et al. () reported higher herbage protein content with increasing drought stress. Based on an analysis of the dynamics of nitrogen content as a function of the measured aerial biomass, Lemaire et al.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of plant architecture and drought stress level on lucerne forage quality

Pecetti

Annicchiarico

Scotti

et al. 2016

Grass and Forage Science

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Breeding for enhanced quality in lucerne (Medicago sativa) frequently involves selection for higher leaf‐to‐stem ratio, multifoliolate leaves or short‐internode stems. Three populations selected for such alternative morphologies and a reference cultivar were evaluated for forage yield, leaf‐to‐stem ratio and protein and fibre concentrations in leaves, stems and whole plants. Four managed environments were obtained by combining two stress levels (moderate or nil) with two sowing times. The population selected for high leaf‐to‐stem ratio, as well as the short‐internode population, had highest leaf‐to‐stem ratio (1.27) across six harvests in two non‐stress environments. The latter population had higher stem protein (12.9%) and lower stem neutral‐detergent fibre (NDF) concentration (58.7%) than other populations. The multifoliolate population had intermediate quality, showing low expression of the multifoliolate trait (14.0% across four environments), particularly under stress (10.5%). The autumn‐sown, fully irrigated environment had, on average, highest dry‐matter yield (4.19 t ha−1) and lowest leaf‐to‐stem ratio (0.74). Drought‐stressed environments had lower plant NDF (−12.3% on average) and leaf protein (−9.7%), and higher stem protein (+8.6%) than fully irrigated environments. The results suggested that environmental effects might have greater impact on quality than genetic effects, even for a population set including material selected for quality‐driven morphology.

show abstract

Quality and morphological characteristics of alfalfa as affected by soil moisture, pH and phosphorus fertilization

Cited by 23 publications

References 16 publications

Maturity and quality of alfalfa as affected by phosphorus fertility

Maturity and quality of alfalfa as affected by phosphorus fertility

Reducing Water Inputs with Subsurface Drip Irrigation May Improve Alfalfa Nutritive Value

Effects of plant architecture and drought stress level on lucerne forage quality

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About