Influence of alfalfa seed belts on yield component and seed yield in mainland China - A review

Author(s):  
Wenxu Zhang ◽  
Li Liang ◽  
Xiping Zhang ◽  
Jing Chen ◽  
Hui Wang ◽  
...  

Alfalfa is widely cultivated, and the seed yield differs in different regions due to the climate environment and so on in China. In order to obtain higher yield, alfalfa seed production must choose the most suitable area. Therefore, according to the geographical and climatic conditions, the alfalfa seed production area can be divided into four belts: Hexi Corridor belt, Hetao Plainbelt, the northern slope of the Tianshan Mountains belt and the Hotanbelt in mainland China. Under different cultivation measures, the seed yield of four alfalfa seed production zones, varied in the range of 360-1833 kg/hm2, 234.96-1560.1kg/hm2, 179.10-1197.33 kg/hm2, 225-300 kg/hm2, respectively. These different cultivation measures can provide theoretical guidance for alfalfa seed production in different production zones.

1990 ◽  
Vol 70 (4) ◽  
pp. 1071-1080 ◽  
Author(s):  
LUCIUS BELZILE

For five years, the effect of cultivars and vegetative stage of cutting were measured on red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) seed production. The first group of cultivars included Hungaropoli, Ottawa and Lakeland harvested in 1981 and 1982. The second group included Arlington, Florex and Prosper I harvested in 1984, 1985 and 1987. The total annual seed yield differed within cultivars and the highest seed yield was obtained with Hungaropoly and Florex. In the first cultivar group, the tetraploid Hungaropoly obtained a kernel weight higher than the diploids Lakeland and Ottawa. In the second group of cultivars, all diploids, Arlington yielded the highest kernel weight. The percentage of seed germination of Hungaropoly was higher than Lakeland and Ottawa while for Florex it was slightly higher than Arlington and Prosper I. A prior vegetative cutting is essential for good seed yield. In the absence of vegetative cutting seed weight seemed improved. The stage of development at which vegetative cutting is done has little influence on percentage seed germination. These results have shown that despite the strong effect of climatic conditions on seed production, the choice of the optimum stage for vegetative cutting and a well adapted cultivar are important aspects in successful seed production.Key words: Red clover, seed production, cultivar, stage of cutting


2003 ◽  
Vol 83 (1) ◽  
pp. 189-197 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. E. May ◽  
H. A. Loeppky ◽  
D. C. Murrell ◽  
C. D. Myhre ◽  
J. J. Soroka

Preharvest applications of glyphosate have been shown to be effective in controlling Canada thistle in annual crops, but may reduce alfalfa seed yield depending on time and rate of application. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of preharvest applications of glyphosate on subsequent alfalfa seed yield and quality. The effects of timing, 1, 26, 51 and 76% alfalfa seed pod maturity, and rate, 0, 440, 880, 1320, and 1760 g a.i. ha-1, of a preharvest application of glyphosate on alfalfa seed yield and quality in the year of application, and regrowth and seed yield in the following year were determined. The rate of glyphosate applied did not affect seed yield in the application year; however, in the following year, growth and seed yield were reduced as rates increased. Delaying the application of glyphosate increased seed yields in the application year, but decreased alfalfa regrowth and flowering the following year. Germination and seedling emergence were not affected by the rate or timing of the glyphosate. A preharvest application of glyphosate at 1760 g a.i. ha-1 at 76% pod maturity is a viable option in the last year of seed production. Key words: Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), glyphosate, abnormal seeds, seed quality, and seedling vigour


1996 ◽  
Vol 76 (3) ◽  
pp. 435-439 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. R. Moyer ◽  
S. N. Acharya ◽  
J. Fraser ◽  
K. W. Richards ◽  
N. Foroud

Recommendations for desiccation of alfalfa do not clearly define the stage at which desiccants should be applied. To obtain this information, diquat and glufosinate were applied to alfalfa (Medicago sativa L) from 1991 to 1994 at various stages of maturity to determine the effect of desiccant and stage of maturity at desiccation on seed yield 1000-seed weight and seed germinability. Alfalfa seed yields, 1000-seed weights, percent germination and percent viable seed were similar after desiccation with diquat and glufosinate. Desiccation when 60–75% of the alfalfa seed pods were brown permitted maximum seed yields. Percent germination increased slightly in seeds that were exposed to weathering under normal conditions until all pods turned brown. Both desiccants adequately desiccated alfalfa for harvesting but desiccation with glufosinate took 2 or 3 d longer than diquat. Desiccants did not reduce alfalfa growth in the spring after application. Key words: Germination, yield, hard seed, seed weight, stage


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


Author(s):  
Wenxu Zhang ◽  
Fangshan Xia ◽  
Yin Li ◽  
Mingya Wang ◽  
Peisheng Mao

A 5 year field experiment was conducted to investigate the influence of different yearly climatic features and row spacing on seed yield and seed yield components during the 2008-2012 growing seasons in semi-arid soils in northwest China. Rows pacing treatments were 30, 60, 90, and 120 cm. Seed yield and some seed yield components were determined for all treatments. The year affected seed yield components markedly, but row spacing except for the quantity of seeds per pod. The interaction of year and row spacing have a significant impact on racemes per square meter and seed yield (P less than 0.05). The highest seed yield was gained in the fifth year (409.83 kg ha-1) with 60 cm row spacing (456.30kg ha-1). These results indicated that alfalfa should be planted with 60cm row spacing, which was most productive for improving the alfalfa seed yield in semi-arid lands.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Molly E. Dieterich Mabin ◽  
Johanne Brunet ◽  
Heathcliffe Riday ◽  
Lauren Lehmann

Selfing (self-pollination) is the ultimate form of inbreeding, or mating among close relatives. Selfing can create yield loss when inbreeding depression, defined as a lower survival and reproduction of inbred relative to outbred progeny, is present. To determine the impact of selfing in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), we quantified the selfing rate of 32 alfalfa seed production fields located in three regions, namely, the Pacific Northwest (PNW), the Central Valley of California (CEV), and the Imperial Valley of California (IMP). Selfing rates (the proportion of selfed seeds) varied between 5.3 and 30% with an average of 12.2% over the 32 seed production fields. In both the parents and their progeny, we observed an excess of heterozygotes relative to Hardy–Weinberg expectations. We detected notable levels of inbreeding in parents (0.231 ± 0.007 parental inbreeding coefficient) and progeny (0.229 ± 0.005). There were a 15% decrease in the number of seeds per stem (seed set) and a 13% decline in the number of seeds per pod in selfed relative to outcrossed stems, but negligible inbreeding depression for pods per raceme and seed weight. The number of racemes on selfed stems increased significantly in fields with greater selfing rates, supporting the presence of geitonogamous or among flower selfing. Despite the significant level of inbreeding depression, seed set did not decrease in fields with higher selfing rates, where the greater number of racemes on the selfed stems increased the seed set. The effects of the field selfing rate on the seed yield metrics were mostly indirect with direct effects of the number of racemes per stem. Available data indicate that the majority of selfing in alfalfa is pollinator-mediated, and thus, eliminating selfing in alfalfa seed production would require the selection of self-incompatible varieties, which, by eliminating inbreeding depression, would provide a 15% potential increase in seed yield and an increase in future hay yield.


2003 ◽  
Vol 83 (1) ◽  
pp. 199-204
Author(s):  
W. E. May ◽  
C. D. Myhre ◽  
H. A. Loeppky ◽  
D. C. Murrell ◽  
J. J. Soroka

Canada thistle [Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop.] is increasing in both frequency and density in Saskatchewan alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) seed fields. Application of preharvest glyphosate is an effective means of controlling Canada thistle in annual crops. This study was conducted to determine the effects of preharvest glyphosate on Canada thistle control and crop tolerance in alfalfa seed fields. Five field experiments were conducted in northeast Saskatchewan between 1995 and 1997 in which preharvest glyphosate was applied at 0, 220, 440, 660, 880, and 1760 g a.i. ha-1 when 60–70% of alfalfa seed pods were brown. Glyphosate did not affect seed yield in the year of application at any application rate, nor germination and subsequent emergence of the harvested seed. Alfalfa regrowth in the year following application declined linearly as the rate of preharvest glyphosate increased. Seed yield was also reduced in the year following glyphosate application. Glyphosate application at 220 g a.i. ha-1 significantly reduced Canada thistle regrowth in the year following application. Canada thistle density decreased in 2 of 4 site years with increasing rates of preharvest glyphosate. Using preharvest glyphosate at rates higher than 220 g a.i. ha-1 in seed alfalfa is not recommended when future seed harvest is planned. However, higher rates of preharvest glyphosate could be used in the final year of seed production to facilitate alfalfa removal. Key words: Preharvest glyphosate, abnormal seeds, seed quality, germination, hard seed and emergence


2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 60-64
Author(s):  
Wurentuya ◽  
Lingling Chen

Boron (B) is an essential micronutrient for plant reproductive growth and seed setting. A better understanding of the reasonable application rate of B could provide guidelines for improving seed yield and quality. In this study, we used five B concentrations (0, 400, 800, 1200, and 1600 mg B L-1) to study the effect of foliar application of B on seed yield and quality of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) in northern China. Our results indicated that foliar B application increased the pollen number, pollen viability, and dry weight and B concentration of alfalfa reproductive organs. The effect of B on alfalfa seed yield can be attributed to affecting the number of inflorescence and the seeds per pod. Foliar application with 800 mg B L-1 made quantitative and qualitative improvements in seed yield and quality of alfalfa. These results help to explain the positive effects of B on alfalfa seed production.


Author(s):  
G.A. Avery

Lucerne is grown for seed chiefly in Marlborough and North Canterbury with a small amount in Mid Canterbury. The variation in the areas harvested from year to year indicates two important factors regarding lucerne seed production: 1. That most farmers regard lucerne as a catch crop. 2. The terrific influence climatic conditions have on seed yield.


2004 ◽  
Vol 84 (1) ◽  
pp. 117-124 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. J. Cattani ◽  
S. R. Smith ◽  
Jr., P. R. Miller ◽  
D. E. Feindel ◽  
R. Gjuric

Creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera L.) is a high-value turfgrass species that offers opportunities for western Canadian seed companies and producers. The objective of this study was to evaluate creeping bentgrass seed yield and the relationship between seedhead density and seed yield across a diverse range of cultivars. A series of four trials was established in Manitoba between 1992 and 1994 and included 18th Green, Cobra, Emerald, National, Penneagle, Pennlinks, Putter, Southshore, UM86-01 and UM86-02. Seed production and seedhead density were measured for 2–3 yr at each location. Additional yield component measurements included harvest index and thousand seed weight. The three cultivars developed within the region consistently showed high seed yield, seedhead density and harvest index and were numerically ranked in the top four for seed yield across all 11 location years. UM86-01 was in the highest grouping for seed yield across all harvests with yields ranging from 312 to 582 kg ha-1. Seedhead density was strongly related to seed yield (highly significant in five of six comparisons) and therefore has the potential to be a valuable indicator of relative seed yield in creeping bentgrass. These results indicate that creeping bentgrass seed yield is variable across cultivars and that seedhead density can serve as a good predictor of seed production potential across cultivars. Key words: creeping bentgrass, harvest index, seedhead density, seed yield, yield components.


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