Establishment Method and Seeding Date Effects on Alfalfa Yield and Quality
Establishment Method and Seeding Date Effects on Alfalfa Yield and Quality

Author: Michael Dean Hoy

Publisher:

Published: 1998

Total Pages: 106

ISBN-13:

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Weed control during alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) establishment is a primary concern of Midwest forage producers. Companion crops, such as oat (Avena sativa L.), have been used for alfalfa establishment to increase first year forage yields and decrease weed pressure and erosion risk. Using herbicides to establish alfalfa without a companion crop has also been effective. The purpose of this study was to evaluate eight establishment methods and determine their influence on dry matter production, botanical composition and herbage quality during the establishment year and the year following establishment.

Alfalfa Management Guide
Alfalfa Management Guide

Author: D. J. Undersander

Publisher:

Published: 2011

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9780891181798

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The Alfalfa Management Guide is designed especially for busy growers, with to-the-point recommendations, useful images of diseased plants and pests, and quick-reference tables and charts. Revised in 2011, this edition of Alfalfa Management Guide covers the latest strategies for alfalfa establishment, production, and harvest-soil testing, fertilizing, integrated pest management, rotation, and more.

Alfalfa Establishment with Annual Companion Crops Including Sudangrass
Alfalfa Establishment with Annual Companion Crops Including Sudangrass

Author: Caroline Matteau

Publisher:

Published: 2018

Total Pages:

ISBN-13:

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"When establishing alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) stands there are two primary options to minimize weed encroachment: the use of herbicides or the use of annual companion crops. Companion crops will minimize weed development during the establishment year, provide more harvestable forage biomass, and reduce risks of erosion. In Quebec, smallgrain cereals are traditionally used as companion crops but other species such as Sudangrass and ryegrass are now also available. However, such species haven't been evaluated locally as companion crops for the establishment of alfalfa. This project had for objective to determine the effects of establishing alfalfa with various companion crop species on forage yield and quality, and alfalfa establishment and persistence, with a focus on newly available species. Sudangrass hybrids appear to be promising as companion crop for alfalfa establishment since it has a greater yield potential than traditionally used species and adapts well to drought conditions which are increasingly prevalent in southern Quebec. Results indicated that the use of a Sudangrass companion crop has a potential superior to that of oat and ryegrass to improve total seasonal forage yields during alfalfa establishment. In addition, Sudangrass was less competitive to alfalfa than oat or ryegrass and was among the most productive companion crop, resulting in high alfalfa and companion crop yields. On the other hand, Sudangrass weed suppression potential appeared to be lower then that of oat or ryegrass when weed pressure was high. In post-seeding years, the negative effect of the companion crops on yields was inconsistent. Alfalfa established with Sudangrass produced a forage of a similar average seasonal quality than the oat treatment but lower than ryegrass and soloseeded alfalfa. Finally, of all companion crop treatments evaluated, Sudangrass was less aggressive to alfalfa stands with no impact over alfalfa stands density found in subsequent years. " --