Alfalfa Seed Yields from Seeded Rows vs. Spaced Transplants 1

Crop Science ◽  
1976 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 268-270 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clarence M. Rincker
Keyword(s):  
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


1991 ◽  
Vol 71 (2) ◽  
pp. 481-489 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. R. Moyer ◽  
R. W. Richards ◽  
G. B. Schaalje

Alfalfa was seeded in row spacings of 36, 72 and 108 cm and at broadcast seeding rates of 0.33, 1.0 and 3.0 kg ha−1 on irrigated land at Tilley (1983) and Lethbridge (1984), Alberta to determine the effect of plant density on weed growth and alfalfa seed yield. During the seed-producing years at each location, herbicide treatments were overlaid on seeding treatments in a split-block arrangement to assess the joint effect of herbicides and plant density on alfalfa seed yield. Hexazinone was the main herbicide used for weed control. Alfalfa seed and weeds were harvested for 5 yr following alfalfa establishment. Alfalfa seed yields tended to be maximum with 36-cm row spacings or the 3.0 kg ha−1 broadcast seeding rate, and were similar in row-seeded and broadcast-seeded alfalfa. Dry matter yields of weeds decreased as row spacings decreased or the broadcast seeding rate increased. Hexazinone controlled quackgrass, sow thistle, flixweed and kochia. In the experiment at Tilley with perennial weed infestations, mean alfalfa seed yields from 1984 to 1985 were 20% larger when herbicides were used than in the untreated check. Alfalfa plant densities slightly larger than currently recommended usually produced the largest seed yields and smallest weed infestations. Key words: Medicago sativa, quackgrass, kochia, sow thistle, flixweed, hexazinone


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


Weed Science ◽  
1980 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 164-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Waddington

Applications of 2,4-D [(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)acetic acid] at 1.1 kg/ha at the start of each growing season severely damaged established alfalfa (Medicago sativaL. ‘Beaver’) and reduced seed yield 32% over a 4-yr period. Dandelion (Taraxacum officinaleWeber) populations were reduced but perennial sowthistle (Sonchus arvensisL.) increased in frequency. Dichlobenil (2,6-dichlorobenzonitrile) applied at 2.1 kg/ha controlled both dandelion and perennial sowthistle. Alfalfa was damaged initially but rapid recovery resulted in an increase in seed yield in 2 yr out of 4. Terbacil (3-tert-butyl-5-chloro-6-methyluracil) applied at 1.1 kg/ha also controlled dandelion and perennial sowthistle. No alfalfa damage was evident and seed yields were increased 34% over a 3-yr period. Seed yield increased 30% where asulam (methyl sulfanilylcarbamate) was applied at 4.5 kg/ha, but there was no visible effect on the growth of either alfalfa or weeds. Simazine [2-chloro-4,6-bis (ethylamino)-s-triazine], propham (isopropyl carbanilate) + PCMC (p-chlorophenyl-N-methyl carbamate), pronamide [3,5-dichloro(N-1,1-dimethyl-2-propynyl)benzamide], and diuron [3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea], did not affect alfalfa seed production significantly, although simazine and diuron did reduce dandelion populations.


2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 28-32
Author(s):  
Перцева ◽  
Elena Pertseva

The purpose of research is alfalfa yields increasing by crops of different ages in the conditions of forest-steppe of the Samara region. Field studies were carried out in breeding crop rotation of department introduction, selection of feed and oilseeds Volga research station named after P.N. Konstantinov in 2014. Entomofauna alfalfa crops of different varieties and ages were studied mowing butterfly net. More numerous entomofauna was recorded in crops of alfalfa 2011 compared with age-related crops in 2008. Specialized herbivores studied culture were found in the growing season 2014 agrocenoses alfalfa crops – alfalfa tolstonozhka (Bruchophagus roddi Guss), alfalfa semyaed (Tychius flavus), alfalfa weevils (Sitona humeralis Steph.), Alfalfa bug (Adelphocoris lineolatus Goeze), leaf alfalfa weevil larvae (Phytonomus variabilis Hbst.) and larvae of alfalfa bollworm (Heliothis viriplaca Hfn.). Forms relating to herbivores Polyphagous and Oligophagous cereals were also recorded. In addition agrocenoses met: Entomophages predator’s cocktsinellidy (Coccinellidae), different types of spiders (Arachnida) and representatives of the family of grasshoppers (Tettigonioidea). Large foliage of alfalfa plants was recorded under option Population 4. Several smaller foliage of plants observed in crops of alfalfa 2011 compared with planting in 2008. On the 3-year agrocenoses best foliage appeared on variety Guzel which had the lowest figures in the age crops. Alfalfa seed yields mainly depend on the age of the studied agrocenosis culture. Alfalfa crop given harvest seeds in 3.6-4.7 times more than the age-crops in 2008. The highest seed yield was obtained from the varieties of Emerald in 2008 and in 2011.


2014 ◽  
Vol 94 (7) ◽  
pp. 1149-1156 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiejun Zhang ◽  
Junmei Kang ◽  
Zhongxiang Zhao ◽  
Wenshan Guo ◽  
Qingchuan Yang

Zhang, T., Kang, J., Zhao, Z., Guo, W. and Yang, Q. 2014. Frequency, depth and rate of phosphorus fertilizer application effects on alfalfa seed yields. Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 1149–1156. Efficient phosphorus (P) management is important for alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) seed production and is necessary in order to alleviate the negative environmental effects of excess P application. The study was conducted on both very low-P and optimum-P soils to evaluate the effects of two frequencies (annual and triennial applications), two depths (7–8 and 15–16 cm), and three rates (15, 30, and 45 kg P ha−1) of P fertilization on seed yield, total P uptake (TPU), P-use efficiency of applied P (PUE), and recovery of P fertilizer (PR). There was a zero-P control. Under the model of annual application, the highest seed yields were obtained with the rates of 30 or 45 kg P ha−1. Under the model of triennial application, however, the seed yield decreased linearly with increasing rates in the first year. Averaged across frequency and depth, PUE and PR decreased linearly but TPU increased linearly with increasing P application rate. Triennial application of 45 kg of P led to higher mean seed yield than annual application of 15 kg of P, and its PUE and PR values were higher than triennial application of 90 and 135 kg of P. However, on low-P or optimum-P soil, annual application of 30 or 45 kg of P resulted in the highest mean seed yields compared with low PUE and PR. Thus, triennial application of a low P rate leads to a high alfalfa seed yield and has potential economic and environmental benefits.


Crop Science ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 794-803 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiejun Zhang ◽  
Xianguo Wang ◽  
Jianguo Han ◽  
Yunwen Wang ◽  
Peisheng Mao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  

1993 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 58-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
James R. Moyer ◽  
G. Bruce Schaalje

Alfalfa seed yield and quackgrass density were measured in seven irrigated fields in southern Alberta to assess the effect of quackgrass on seed yield. Six herbicides were tested to determine their effect on quackgrass growth and accompanying alfalfa seed yield. The effect of quackgrass on seed yield was adequately described by a hyperbolic model. Quackgrass densities of 50 and 100 heads per m2reduced seed yields by 56 and 74%, respectively. The economic threshold density was 3 quackgrass heads per m2. The most effective herbicide treatments, quizalofop and propaquizafop, resulted in good initial quackgrass suppression and yield increases similar to those predicted by the hyperbolic model.


1993 ◽  
Vol 125 (5) ◽  
pp. 815-824 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliana J. Soroka ◽  
Dorothy C. Murrell

AbstractA 4-year field cage study was conducted to determine what effects feeding of alfalfa plant bug, Adelphocoris lineolatus (Goeze), late in the season had on alfalfa seed yields. When zero, one, two, or four alfalfa plant bugs were placed in sleeve cages containing stems of alfalfa at the green pod stage of growth, there was a significant decrease in the number of pods per cage and per raceme, the number of healthy seeds, and the weight of seeds with two or four bugs per cage. Increasing the duration of infestation resulted in significant increases in the number of damaged seeds per cage. An insecticide field trial was conducted in north central Saskatchewan in 1988 to determine what effects the occurrence of plant bugs had on seed yields of alfalfa. Alfalfa plant bug, lygus bug (Lygus spp.), pea aphid [Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris)], and beneficial arthropod populations were monitored from 23 June to 1 September 1988. Seed yields were significantly greater in plots that were treated with trichlorfon in June and in June and August than in plots that were treated in August alone. The implications of a large alfalfa plant bug population late in the season to alfalfa seed production in the area are discussed.


1998 ◽  
Vol 130 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliana J. Soroka ◽  
D.T. Spurr

AbstractA 5-year survey of Saskatchewan alfalfa (Medicago sativa L. sensu lato) seed fields was undertaken to determine the level of infestation by the alfalfa seed chalcid, Bruchophagus roddi (Gussakovsky). Seed samples were taken from commercial seed fields, hay fields, and roadsides just before pod maturity. From sample lots of 250 pods, the numbers of healthy, chalcid-damaged, and frozen or immature seed were determined. Later, producers were questioned about the attributes of and management practices employed in their fields. Seed yields and infestation levels were correlated with temperature, precipitation, and degree-day data from the year of and the year preceding seed collection. Alfalfa seed chalcid infestation level was correlated most closely with the temperature and rainfall in July and August of both years. The proportion of damaged seed was highest the year following warm, dry summers. Alfalfa cultivar also influenced infestation levels; winter-hardy cultivars that became dormant early in the autumn had lower levels of chalcid-damaged seeds than less hardy cultivars which maintained growth later in the season. Management practices such as the use of insecticides (for plant bug and aphid control), fertilizers, and herbicides, size or age of field, soil type, and application of irrigation water did not affect the proportion of seeds injured by chalcids.


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