MORPHOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT OF TWO ALFALFA CULTIVARS UNDER VARIOUS HARVESTING SCHEDULES
Two alfalfa cultivars grown under field conditions were harvested at different stages of maturity during the growing season of 1969. The number of buds and stems that originated from various locations on the plant and the dry weight of the stems were recorded periodically. The pattern of regrowth was the same for both cultivars. During regrowth, following all stages of harvest, many buds that developed early failed to produce mature stems. Uncut alfalfa produced a second crop of regrowth stems from the bases of stems that formed the first growth. After each harvest regrowth stems originated mainly from the stubble of the most recently harvested stems. Yield reductions occurring in successive regrowths of each harvest schedule were due mainly to the production of smaller stems. Increased growth rates following more mature stages of cutting resulted mainly from faster elongation of stems developing from larger buds. The implications of these findings with respect to the breeding of alfalfa are discussed.