Contribution of Stems and Leaves to the Yield and Nutrient Level of Irrigated Alfalfa at Different Stages of Development

Kilcher, M. R.; Heinrichs, Dirk

doi:10.4141/cjps74-125

Cited by 18 publications

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“…At all locations, leaf concentration decreased as alfalfa maturity at harvest increased (Table 5) Alfalfa subject to the midbud regime at Rosemount had a season average leaf concentration of 540 g kg −1 Averaged across locations, the early flower and late flower harvest regimes had season‐average leaf concentrations of 520 and 460 g kg −1 , respectively. Similar declines in leaf concentration with advancing maturity were reported by Fick and Holthausen (1975) and by Kilcher and Heinrichs (1974)…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 85%

“…Harvest maturity is determined by producer need to optimize herbage yield, nutritive value, or nutrient yield. Highest herbage nutritive value and intake potential usually occur with preflowering alfalfa with the highest yields of nutrients at early flowering (Sheaffer et al, 1988) Herbage harvested at full bloom is expected to have a higher stem proportion than less mature herbage (Fick and Holthausen, 1975; Kilcher and Heinrichs, 1974). A biofuel production system that adds value to stem components of alfalfa may favor a shift to harvesting at more mature stages with fewer harvests per season.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Leaf and Stem Properties of Alfalfa Entries

Sheaffer¹,

Martin

Lamb³

et al. 2000

Agronomy Journal

118

105

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In the North Central region, producers typically initiate harvesting when alfalfa maturity reaches bud to early Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) has been considered as a biofuel flowering. This often results in three or four harvests feedstock. A system has been proposed to produce electricity from the stems and utilize the leaves as a livestock feed. We determined per season. Harvest maturity is determined by producer the effects of harvest regimes on yield and quality of leaf, stem, and need to optimize herbage yield, nutritive value, or nutritotal herbage of six alfalfa entries. We applied three harvest regimes ent yield. Highest herbage nutritive value and intake involving three harvests per year at bud stage or early flower, or two potential usually occur with preflowering alfalfa with the harvests per year at late flower. An early flower harvest regime had highest yields of nutrients at early flowering (Sheaffer et the highest leaf yield (average of 5.6, 4.5, and 4.5 Mg ha Ϫ1 for the al., 1988). Herbage harvested at full bloom is expected to early flower, late flower, and midbud regimes, respectively), and the have a higher stem proportion than less mature herbage late flower harvest regime had the highest stem yield (average of 5.8, (Fick and Holthausen, 1975; Kilcher and Heinrichs, 5.3, and 3.9 Mg ha Ϫ1 for the late flower, early flower, and midbud 1974). A biofuel production system that adds value to regimes, respectively). Leaf concentration decreased with increased stem components of alfalfa may favor a shift to harvestherbage maturity (average of 540, 517, and 458 g kg Ϫ1 for the midbud, early flower, and late flower regimes, respectively) and was associated ing at more mature stages with fewer harvests per with total herbage crude protein (CP) (r ϭ 0.65, P Ͻ 0.05) and acid-season. detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral-detergent fiber (NDF) (r ϭ Ϫ0.76, Recommended harvest schedules for modern alfalfa P Ͻ 0.05). Harvest regime did not affect total seasonal herbage yield cultivars in a biofuel system are unknown because the or stand persistence. Alfalfa entries differed in herbage quality, leaf relative value of leaf and stem components is expected concentration, and leaf yield, but did not consistently differ in total to vary with energy and livestock feed prices. Compared herbage or stem yield. Herbage yield and quality differences among with the currently used three-or four-cut schedules, a entries were similar for all harvest regimes. Producers can affect stem two-cut schedule with alfalfa harvested at full bloom and leaf yields by selection of harvest regime.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 85%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Leaf and Stem Properties of Alfalfa Entries

Sheaffer¹,

Martin

Lamb³

et al. 2000

Agronomy Journal

118

105

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“…1988). In addition, the quality of stems decreases more rapidly with advancing maturity than that of leaves (Kilcher and Heinrichs 1974, Albrecht et al. 1987).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The secondary cell wall of alfalfa stems is composed of up to 150 g kg )1 lignin and 700 g kg )1 cellulose on a dry weight basis (Marten et al 1988). In addition, the quality of stems decreases more rapidly with advancing maturity than that of leaves (Kilcher andHeinrichs 1974, Albrecht et al 1987). Increases in lignin content have been reported to cause substantial reduction in the digestibility of forage (Buxton and Casler 1993).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Germplasm Variability and Environmental Effects on Stem Cellulose and Lignin Concentrations in Alfalfa*

Schwab¹,

Lamb²,

Barnes³

2005

J Agronomy Crop Science

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Stem cellulose and lignin concentrations are major determining factors of alfalfa (Medicago sativa ssp. sativa L.) forage quality. Only limited information is available on the genetic variability and the influence of environmental effects on these two stem-quality traits. Our objectives were to: evaluate the variability for stem cellulose and lignin concentrations in modern alfalfa germplasms across several harvests; observe the environmental stability of these two quality traits in 32 alfalfa clones selected high or low for either stem cellulose or lignin concentration; and examine the relationships between these two stem-quality traits and leaf and stem crude protein (CP). Fifty alfalfa entries (cultivars and experimental populations) were established May 1993, and sampled for stem acid-detergent lignin (ADL), stem acid-detergent cellulose (ADC), and stem CP on Sep 1993, June and Aug 1994. Clones were vegetatively propagated from individual plants selected for extremes in stem ADL and ADC and transplanted into blocks at two locations in May 1994 and sampled for quality analysis in September 1994. For all samples, leaves were hand-separated from stems and stem ADL, ADC, CP and leaf CP concentration were determined using near infrared reflectance spectroscopy. Entry differences for stem ADL and ADC were detected only at the June 1994 harvest date in the cultivar study. Spearman's ranked correlations over years in the clonal study demonstrated greater environmental stability for stem ADC (r ¼ 0.70, P ‡ 0.01) than for stem ADL (r ¼ 0.54, P # 0.05).Environmental effects had an impact on both traits, but stem ADC showed greater potential for improving forage quality. Simple correlations showed that decreasing stem ADL or ADC would have minimal effect on leaf CP and may increase stem CP.

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“…Lucerne leaves and stems contain different crude protein and crude fibre concentrations at different stages of growth. Herbage harvested at full bloom is expected to have a higher stem proportion than less mature herbage (Kilcher and Heinrichs, 1974;Fick and Holthausen, 1975). The proportion of leaves in lucerne at the time of harvest is a major factor that determines the quality of the crop (Jung, 2005).…”

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confidence: 99%

Effect of the stage of maturity on the leaf percentage of lucerne and the effect of additives on silage characteristics

Tyrolová¹,

Výborná²

2008

CZECH J ANIM SCI

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ABSTRACT:The first part of the study concerns the effect of the stage of maturity on nutrient content and leaf percentage of lucerne (Medicago sativa). The plants of lucerne were harvested and analysed at several stages of growth. The crop yield and changes in the concentration of nutrients were determined. The leaf percentage from whole herbage and leaf yield were determined as well. The leaf percentage at the growth stage of small buds was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than at the growth stage of bloom in all three cuts (1 st cut 52.7% vs. 46.62%; 2 nd cut 52.03% vs. 44.70%; 3 rd cut 50.58% vs. 46.26%). Crude protein content of lucerne was decreased significantly (P < 0.05) from the large bud growth stage (small buds 219.6 g/kg DM and large buds 203.1 g/kg DM vs. bloom 173.5 and after bloom 154.2). In the second part of the study, the effect of silage additives on fermentation characteristics of lucerne was investigated. The bacterial inoculant (containing homo-and heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria), chemical additive (containing formic acid, propionic acid, ammonium formate and benzoic acid) and the bacterial inoculant with benzoic acid were used for the improvement of fermentation process.The addition of the inoculant with L. buchneri increased acetic acid (P < 0.05) concentration compared to the silage with chemical additive (group I with inoculant -1.22%; group Ch with chemical additive -0.84%; group ICh with chemical additive and inoculant -1.43). Control silage (C) without additive contained 1.14% acetic acid in dry matter.Keywords: lucerne; leaves; stems; buds; bloom; nutrients 331Czech J. Anim. Sci., 53, 2008 (8): 330-335 Original Paper (McDonald et al., 1987).The aim of this study was (i) to assess the effect of harvest date on the yield and quality of lucerne, and (ii) to compare the effects of additives on quality parameters of lucerne silage. MATERIAL AND METHODSThe effect of harvest date on the yield and quality of lucerne herbage was determined in the first experiment (2004). The objective of this experiment was to examine changes in leaf and stem characteristics of lucerne herbage. These data were determined at the growth stage of small buds and bloom during the first, the second and the third cut.Lucerne, cultivar Europe, was grown in an experimental field of the Research Institute of Animal Science (280 m above sea level) near Prague. The average temperature in this area during the last six years was 9.7°C and average total precipitation was 601.3 mm. Lucerne was planted at the seeding rate of 18 kg/ha with wheat as a foregoing crop and legume-cereal mixture as a cover crop. The area 15 × 15 m was marked out at each cut in the 10 ha lucerne field and six samples (each 1 × 1 m) were chosen for cutting at the growth stage of small buds and six samples at growth stages of large buds, bloom and after bloom. Six samples (each 1 × 1 m) were cut at two growth stages (small buds and bloom). The remaining part of the 10 ha field was cut at stages of maturity when the 30% growth had large bud...

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Contribution of Stems and Leaves to the Yield and Nutrient Level of Irrigated Alfalfa at Different Stages of Development

Abstract: For personal use only.

Cited by 18 publications

References 0 publications

Leaf and Stem Properties of Alfalfa Entries

Leaf and Stem Properties of Alfalfa Entries

Germplasm Variability and Environmental Effects on Stem Cellulose and Lignin Concentrations in Alfalfa*

Effect of the stage of maturity on the leaf percentage of lucerne and the effect of additives on silage characteristics

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