scholarly journals Sudangrass Can Be Used as a Companion Crop to Establish Alfalfa

CSA News ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-16
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1971 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 643-646 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. A. McGowan ◽  
W. A. Williams




1995 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 761-767 ◽  
Author(s):  
James B. Calkins ◽  
Bert T. Swanson

Soil cultivation (3 to 5 times/yr) and herbicide management (oxadiazon, 3.92 kg ai/ha), agricultural standards for reducing weed competition, were compared to three alternative nursery field management systems regarding weed suppression: ‘Norcen’ bird's-foot trefoil companion crop, ‘Wheeler’ winter rye cover crop/mulch, and grass sod (80% ‘Eton’ perennial ryegrass and 20% ‘Ruby’ red fescue). Field management treatment had a significant effect on observed weed populations. Weed densities were also subject to yearly variations caused by climate and endogenous weed life cycles. Herbicide management (oxadiazon) consistently provided the best control of undesired vegetation (0.3 weeds/m2) followed by the grass sod (0.7 weeds/m2), Wheeler rye cover crop/mulch (1.7 weeds/m2), Norcen bird's-foot trefoil companion crop (8.6 weeds/m2), and cultivated (55.7 weeds/m2) treatments, respectively. Although the grass sod treatment provided excellent control of undesired vegetation, as an alternative to cultivation and herbicide use, it proved to be excessively competitive with the nursery crop. The bird's-foot trefoil treatment quickly became infested with broadleaf weeds the eradication of which proved difficult. The Wheeler winter rye cover crop/mulch field management system provided acceptable weed control combined with other beneficial effects on the plant/soil environment. Results support the effectiveness of Wheeler winter rye and perhaps other allelopathic cover crop/mulch systems in controlling undesired vegetation in horticultural field production systems.



1983 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 443-452 ◽  
Author(s):  
GILLES DEPUIS

The effect of companion crop management on the establishment of alfalfa was evaluated. The studied variables included species of cereals, row spacing and seeding rate of companion crop, stage of maturity of the companion crop at harvest, and an additional nitrogen fertilizer application. The cereals were harvested as forage. In the year after the seeding year, the first yield of alfalfa was determined. In seven trials, forage yields of a pure stand of alfalfa were 3350 kg/ha in the first cut of the seeding year. These yields averaged 60% of forage yields obtained from the combination of alfalfa and companion crop. However, cereals substantially reduced the total digestible nutrients, crude protein and calcium contents of the forage as compared to the pure alfalfa. The additional 38 kg/ha of nitrogen at tillering provided an extra yield of 600 kg/ha. Row spacing had little or no effect on forage yield. Even though wider spacings has considerably reduced seeding rates increased spacing from 18 to 54 cm did not affect barley yield while wheat was reduced by 400 kg/ha and oat increased by 300 kg/ha. Also, the average number of stems per meter of row increased by 89% with an average weight gain of 23% for each stem at the 54-cm spacing. At the first cut in the year following establishment, yields of alfalfa established with a companion crop were equal to or lower than those in pure stand. Yield reductions varied from 0 to 13% with barley and wheat but approached 30% when oats were seeded in 18-cm rows. However, the yield reduction was only 14% in the 54-cm row spacing of oats.Key words: Medicago sativa L., nitrogen fertilization, companion crop



1954 ◽  
Vol 46 (10) ◽  
pp. 449-451 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dale Smith ◽  
H. J. Lowe ◽  
A. M. Strommen ◽  
G. N. Brooks
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2017 ◽  
Vol 151 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristiano M. Pariz ◽  
Ciniro Costa ◽  
Carlos A.C. Crusciol ◽  
André M. Castilhos ◽  
Paulo R.L. Meirelles ◽  
...  


1987 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
pp. 263-266 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. WADDINGTON ◽  
N. MALIK

In two experiments at Melfort using alfalfa (Medicago sativa L. ’Beaver’) seeded at a rate of 2 kg ha−1 with and without a Polish rapeseed (Brassica campestris L. ’Candle’) companion crop seeded at 5.5 kg ha−1, rapeseed yields in the establishment year were maximum when alfalfa and rapeseed were mixed and planted in 15-cm rows. Alfalfa showed no consistent seed yield differences between broadcast seeding, seeding in 15- or 61-cm rows, or seeding with or without the companion crop.Key words: Alfalfa, rapeseed, Brassica campestris, seed production



1984 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
pp. 677-682 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. WADDINGTON ◽  
S. BITTMAN

Forages were seeded with and without a Polish rapeseed (Brassica campestris L.) companion crop at two dates in each of 3 yr. In each test, forage seedlings grew much better where seeded alone; growth under the companion crop varied from poor to fairly good, depending on the year and the forage species. Russian wild ryegrass (Elymus junceus Fisch.) established poorly under rapeseed. Bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.) establishment was satisfactory in all tests, although production in the year following was usually much less than where it was seeded alone. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and sainfoin (Onobrychis viciaefolia Scop.) establishment was poor to fair under rapeseed. A mid-May seeding date with the companion crop resulted in better forage growth by fall than a later seeding date. A feature of all tests was the severe infestation of volunteer rapeseed the year following seeding in all forages except bromegrass. Because of growth suppression during the establishment year, and difficulties with volunteer rapeseed in legumes in the year following establishment, it is suggested that Polish rapeseed is not a good companion crop when establishing legumes and Russian wild ryegrass.Key words: Bromegrass, alfalfa, Russian wild ryegrass, sainfoin, rapeseed, companion crops, forage establishment





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