A Survey Investigating Alfalfa Winter Injury in Minnesota and Wisconsin from the Winter of 2012‐2013

Wells, M. Scott; Martinson, Krishona L.; Undersander, D. J.

doi:10.2134/fg-2013-0051-rs

Cited by 14 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…and forage mass the following spring (Undersander et al, 2011;Wells et al, 2014). For these reasons, a fall cut was included for two of the 2015 cutting treatments to test the effects of a fall harvest on reduced lignin alfalfa cultivars.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Forage Accumulation and Nutritive Value of Reduced Lignin and Reference Alfalfa Cultivars

et al. 2017

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Core Ideas Reduced lignin and reference cultivars did not differ in forage accumulation. Forage accumulation was greater with a fall harvest or a 40‐d cutting schedule. Reduced lignin alfalfa averaged 8% less acid detergent lignin and 10% greater neutral detergent fiber digestibility. Cutting treatments with shorter harvest intervals increased forage nutritive value. Delaying reduced lignin alfalfa harvest increased forage mass and maintained quality. Reduced lignin alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) cultivars have the potential to increase the feeding value of alfalfa for livestock by improving forage fiber digestibility and to increase harvest management flexibility. The objectives were to compare the forage accumulation and nutritive value of reduced lignin and reference alfalfa cultivars when subject to diverse cutting treatments in the establishment and first production year. Research was established in 2015 at four locations in Minnesota. Reference alfalfa cultivars 54R02, DKA43–22RR, WL 355.RR, and the reduced lignin cultivar 54HVX41 were subject to cutting treatments with variable intervals between harvests. Cultivar by cutting treatment interactions were not significant (P > 0.05), but cultivar and cutting treatment effects were significant. Cultivars did not consistently differ in forage accumulation. Establishment year forage accumulation was greater when a fall harvest was taken, and first production year forage accumulation was generally greatest when alfalfa was harvested on a 40‐d cutting schedule. Compared to reference alfalfa cultivars, 54HVX41 had an average of 8% less acid detergent lignin (ADL) and 10% greater neutral detergent fiber digestibility (NDFD) but was similar in crude protein (CP) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) concentrations. Cutting treatments with shorter harvest intervals increased forage CP and NDFD and decreased NDF and ADL concentrations. With a 5‐d harvest delay, 54HVX41 harvested on a 35‐d harvest interval had a 21% gain in forage mass and a 3% reduction in relative forage quality (RFQ) compared to reference cultivars harvested on a 30‐d harvest interval, which could allow for increased management flexibility.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Forage Accumulation and Nutritive Value of Reduced Lignin and Reference Alfalfa Cultivars

et al. 2017

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“…Other studies reported a lack of T A B L E 5 Total forage dry matter yield in the post-sowing year of alfalfa initially planted with different companion crops in four environments at Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, Canada consistency in the residual impact of annual companion crops used for alfalfa establishment on forage yields in post-sowing years (Sheaffer et al, 2014;Wiersma et al, 1999). This lack of consistency might be because alfalfa stem density in postestablishment years is related to multiple factors, including weather conditions, cultivar selection, and stand management (Wells, Martinson, Undersander, & Sheaffer, 2014). When compared with solo-sown alfalfa, yields of alfalfa established with a companion crop tended to vary not only from site to site but also from year to year, as many environmental factors could affect the results.…”

Section: Alfalfa Winter Survival and Yields In The Post-sowing Yearmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sudangrass as companion crop to establish alfalfa

Matteau

Séguin

Baurhoo³

et al. 2020

Crop Forage & Turfgrass Mgmt

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When establishing alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), the use of companion crops often suppresses weed growth and increases harvestable forage biomass. In Quebec, smallgrain cereals are traditionally used as companion crops, but the use of other recently introduced species such as sudangrass [Sorghum × drummondii (Nees ex. Steud.) Millsp. & Chase] has not yet been evaluated. This project was conducted to evaluate the impact of sudangrass, annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lamarck), and oat (Avena sativa L.) used as companion crops on alfalfa establishment, forage yield, forage quality, and persistence. When sown in June, sudangrass used as a companion crop may result in higher forage yields in the sowing year than other species. Moreover, sudangrass was less competitive overall with alfalfa than annual ryegrass, resulting in higher alfalfa yields and limited impact on alfalfa stand density. However, when weed pressure was high, sudangrass appeared to have lower weed suppression potential than other species. Alfalfa established with sudangrass produced forage with a similar nutritive value to alfalfa established with oat or annual ryegrass when sudangrass was planted in May but lower nutritive value than with annual ryegrass or solosown alfalfa when sudangrass was planted in June. The effects of companion crops on alfalfa yields in the post-sowing year were minimal overall. The results apply to the specific sowing rates used here and further studies should evaluate the performance of each companion crop at a wider range of sowing rates.

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“…In the northern Great Plains, alfalfa stand persistence and forage yield can be reduced due to winter-kill and winter-injury. In 2013, over 90% of alfalfa growers in Minnesota and Wisconsin reported winter-kill and winter-injury [12]. Most winter-kill happens when several weather factors such as above normal rainfall, lack of snow cover, and temperatures below −15 • C are combined [13].…”

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How Does Sowing Rate Affect Plant and Stem Density, Forage Yield, and Nutritive Value in Glyphosate-Tolerant Alfalfa?

Berti

Samarappuli

2018

Agronomy

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The recommended sowing rate of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is about 10 kg pure live seed ha −1 , but it is debated if increasing the sowing rate enhances forage yield and quality in the sowing year. This study was conducted to: (i) determine the optimal sowing rate to maximize forage yield; and (ii) determine the relationship between plant and stem density with forage yield and nutritive value. Experiments were conducted at three sites in North Dakota between 2013 and 2016. Six sowing rates [1,5,10,15,20, and 25 kg ha −1 pure live seed (PLS)] were evaluated. Results indicated that total forage yield in the sowing year was lower only with the lowest sowing rate. Maximum total forage yield in the sowing, first, second, and third production years was obtained with 73, 52, 37, and 36 plants m −2 and 575, 495, 435, and 427 stems m −2 , respectively. In the sowing and first production year, both plant and stem density predicted forage yield similarly. In older stands, stem density predicted forage yield slightly better. Forage nutritive value was similar among sowing rates indicating an increase in sowing rate does not enhance forage nutritive value. In conclusion, increasing the sowing rate above the recommended rate (10 kg PLS ha −1 ) does not increase forage yield or quality. establishment with sowing rates above 17 kg ha −1 [5]. Volenec et al. [7] reported, when plant density is increased up to 172 plants m −2 , alfalfa yield per area was increased, but yield per plant decreased. Alfalfa stem diameter [8] and shoot weight [9] reduction has been associated with increased sowing rates. However, protein content does not increase with higher sowing rates [3]. In studies in the USA, during the first production year of alfalfa, optimum stand density to provide maximum yield varied from 140 to 260 plants m −2 [10]. Most studies have reported that increased sowing rates had limited effects on forage yield long term [2,6]. However, Glaspie et al. [11] reported conflicting results in which a sowing rate of 18 kg ha −1 [4], had the highest alfalfa yield both in the sowing year and in the first production year, compared with 10 kg ha −1 rate.One reason for the observed variability between forage yield and sowing rate is the difference in plant components and their ability to compensate stand loss over time [2]. In the northern Great Plains, alfalfa stand persistence and forage yield can be reduced due to winter-kill and winter-injury. In 2013, over 90% of alfalfa growers in Minnesota and Wisconsin reported winter-kill and winter-injury [12]. Most winter-kill happens when several weather factors such as above normal rainfall, lack of snow cover, and temperatures below −15 • C are combined [13]. Berti et al. [14] also reported a significant increase in the number of dead alfalfa plants in the spring following a fall harvest in the previous year, due to winter-kill. Plant density on average declined from 100 to 25 plants m −2 in four years, while the stem density decreased in the first two years, but it was stable at about 350...

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A Survey Investigating Alfalfa Winter Injury in Minnesota and Wisconsin from the Winter of 2012‐2013

Cited by 14 publications

References 19 publications

Forage Accumulation and Nutritive Value of Reduced Lignin and Reference Alfalfa Cultivars

Forage Accumulation and Nutritive Value of Reduced Lignin and Reference Alfalfa Cultivars

Sudangrass as companion crop to establish alfalfa

How Does Sowing Rate Affect Plant and Stem Density, Forage Yield, and Nutritive Value in Glyphosate-Tolerant Alfalfa?

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