Influence of Three Cutting Systems on the Yield, Water Use Efficiency, and Forage Quality of Sainfoin¹

Abstract

Yield, water use efficiency, and forage quality of ‘Eski’ sainfoin (Onobrychis viciaefolia Scop.) were examined at the Central Great Plains Field Station, Akron, Colo. to determine its potential as a forage crop under dryland conditions. Despite below‐average rainfall during both years of the experiment, average seasonal forage yields over all treatments were 3,494 and 2,383 kg/ha dry matter for 1969 and 1970, respectively. Most of the forage yield was produced by the first cutting. Water use efficiency was high for the first cutting, but was low for the second cutting due to the slow regrowth. A prolonged late‐season drought stress occurred during both years and plants were dormant during this time. Roots extracted soil moisture from depths of 180 cm. Survival rate over the 2‐year period was slightly lower for plants harvested consistently at the early bloom stage of maturity. Forage quality, in terms of leaf, protein, and mineral percentages, cell wall components, and in vitro dry matter digestibility decreased little from early to late‐bloom maturity. This could be attributed to the high retention of leaves and rapid rate of maturation. Leaves had higher percentages of protein, in vitro digestibility, Ca, and Mg and had lower percentages of cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, cellwall constituents, and K than stems.

Drought Effects on Proanthocyanidins in Sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.) Are Dependent on the Plant’s Ontogenetic Stage

“…To study the effect of drought on acetone/water-extractable proanthocyanidin (PA) concentration and composition, we selected sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.) because it has good forage quality and higher proanthocyanidin concentrations than the other common proanthocyanidin-containing forage legumes birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) and white clover (Trifolium repens L.). , Also, there is some indication that sainfoin is drought-tolerant . Furthermore, several cultivars have been shown to contain an appropriate concentration and composition of PAs to reduce methane and nitrous oxide emissions from ruminant farming while maintaining high weight gains in ruminants. , Sainfoin was found to have high potential to be implemented in livestock systems to help improve their sustainability. , However, very little is known about how the proanthocyanidin concentration and structural characteristics of sainfoin are specifically affected by drought stress.…”

“…16,17 Also, there is some indication that sainfoin is drought-tolerant. 18 Furthermore, several cultivars have been shown to contain an appropriate concentration and composition of PAs to reduce methane and nitrous oxide emissions from ruminant farming while maintaining high weight gains in ruminants. 6,19 Sainfoin was found to have high potential to be implemented in livestock systems to help improve their sustainability.…”

Nitrogen Application in Sainfoin under Rain‐Fed Conditions in Wyoming: Productivity and Cost Implications

“…According to Hybner (2013), sainfoin performs better in areas or during years where most of the precipitation occurs in the spring and summer. Perhaps, the higher yields reported by Koch et al (1972), who had more precipitation in the spring and summer months during the study, could be due to the distribution of precipitation and/or genetic × environment interaction. The annual precipitation in 2013 (436 mm) was higher than in 2014 (385 mm); however, the forage DM was greater in 2014 (Table 3).…”

“…Koch et al (1972) reported forage DM as high as 3.49 Mg ha −1 for sainfoin cultivar Eski evaluated under rainfed conditions in Akron, CO, although the site has a semiarid climate as Sheridan, WY, and also received slightly higher amount of annual precipitation (377 mm) during the experimental years. More so, the large yield difference could not be attributed solely to cultivar because, Eski produced lower forage DM than Delaney, Remont, and Shoshone cultivars in a study by Hybner (2013).…”