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The influence of seeding rate on plant population, yield and quality of two alfalfa (Medicago Sativa L.) varieties

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Title The influence of seeding rate on plant population, yield and quality of two alfalfa (Medicago Sativa L.) varieties
Names Aℓ-Hassani, Madhat M. (creator)
McGuire, W. S. (advisor)
Date Issued 1964-08-18 (iso8601)
Note Graduation date: 1965
Abstract A field study was conducted in the Willamette Valley near
Corvallis, Oregon, to determine the influence of seedling rate,
drill row spacing, grass association, and variety on the yield
of dry matter and quality (crude protein content and leafiness)
of alfalfa. Treatments included seeding rates of 7.5, 10, 15 and
20 pounds per acre in various combinations with row spacings of
3, 6 and 12 inches. Orchardgrass (Dactvlis glomerata L.) was
included tn three treatments. Complete data were obtained for
three harvests and yield data only for an aftermath harvest.
Alfalfa varieties were Vernal and DuPuits.
Plant population and stem numbers per unit area increased
with increasing seeding rates and with closer row spacing, but
stem size, dry weight of the stems, leafiness and crude protein
were not affected by seeding rate or row spacing. Grass grown
in association with alfalfa did not influence any of the characteristics studied except for an increase in stem size at
second harvest and increased protein content of the alfalfa at
first harvest.
Vernal and DuPuits yielded the same weight of dry material
for the season. Vernal maintained a higher plant population,
more stems per square foot at each harvest and a higher percentage
of leaves than DuPuits. Stem size and weight and
crude protein content of whole plants was higher in DuPuits
than in Vernal.
Both varieties decreased in yield, plant population, stem
size and stem weight with each successive cutting. Stem number
per square foot and per plant increased with each successive
cutting.
It was concluded that seedling rates from 7.5 to 20 pounds
per acre and row spacings up to 12 inches had very little influence
on quantity and quality of alfalfa hay production.
Genre Thesis/Dissertation
Topic Alfalfa
Identifier http://hdl.handle.net/1957/48603

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