The influence of cutting frequency on the yield, composition and persistence of irrigated lucerne

Abstract

Irrigated Hunter River lucerne (Medicago sativa), grown at Milang, South Australia, was harvested at three, four, five, and six-week frequencies during the summers of 1964-65 and 1965-66. During the second season, dry matter yields were measured and representative subsamples analyzed for crude protein, digestibility, and crude fibre. Plant density was estimated at the end of the experiment. Maximum dry matter yield was obtained when the six-week cutting frequency was used, but lucerne quality was significantly reduced below that obtained from the five-week cutting frequency. Yield and plant density were significantly reduced by the three-week cutting regime, and substantial weed invasion was recorded.

Effects of three harvest schedules on forage yield, quality, and persistence of six alfalfa (Medicago sativa L) cultivars

“…Allinson et al (1969) associated a decline in nutritive value of alfalfa, birdsfoot trefoil, reed canarygrass, bromegrass, and orchardgrass under decreas ing number of cuttings and advancing maturity to an increase in structural carbohydrates. However, a decline in total digestible nutrients could also result from the loss of lower leaves due to age, lodging, disease and other factors (Fuess and Tesar, 1968;Willis et al, 1969), Judd and Radcliffe ( 1970) Several investigators have studied the effects of cutting at definite stages of development versus calendar-date cutting with respect to yield, quality and persistence of alfalfa (Feltner andMassengale, 1965j Moline andWedin, 1969;Weir et al, 1960;Wilsie and Takahashi, 1937). They agree that, while calendar date cutting may be easy to follow, it does not take into consideration the physiological stage of development.…”