alfalfa Articles
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Preharvest neutral detergent fiber concentration of alfalfa as influenced by stubble height
Regression equations can be used to estimate the preharvest neutral detergent fiber (NDF) concentration of alfalfa. In New York, where the stubble height of alfalfa varies due to terrain, predictive accuracy of existing equations may be reduced. The objectives of this experiment were to develop and evaluate alfalfa NDF equations that incorporate intended stubble height. Stands of first-cut ...
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Development and characterization of SSR markers and their use to assess genetic relationships among alfalfa germplasms
Simple sequence repeat (SSR), or microsatellite markers, are codominant, abundant and hypervariable molecular markers from eukaryotic genomes that are being widely used in genetic mapping, phylogenetic studies, and marker-assisted selection. Currently, the number of SSR markers available from alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) genomic libraries is limited. This study was conducted to identify ...
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The profitability and risk of long-term cropping systems featuring different rotations and nitrogen rates
Yield comparisons do not provide the appropriate basis for decision-making regarding cropping systems. The dominant factor influencing the adoption of cropping systems is economics. The objective of this 15-yr study was to evaluate the long-term effect of four N fertilization treatments on the economic returns of seven crop rotations in Wisconsin, based on annual market prices and production ...
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Yields of alfalfa varieties with different fall-dormancy levels in a temperate environment
Fall dormancy (FD) is an important indicator of winter hardiness in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), but the relationship between FD and the yield potential of alfalfa varieties with contrasting FD classes has not been determined in the temperate regions with mild winters. This study was conducted with 42 varieties of eight FD classes (2–9) over four consecutive years to determine the relationship ...
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Potential for delayed orchardgrass seeding during glyphosate-resistant alfalfa establishment
Few herbicides are labeled for weed control when establishing alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)-grass mixtures. Varying the planting date of the grass in relation to alfalfa and adjusting herbicide application timing could improve weed control and forage grass safety. The research objective was to evaluate the use of glyphosate [N-(phosphonomethyl) glycine] for weed control in seedling ...
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Potential for delayed orchardgrass seeding during glyphosate-resistant alfalfa establishment
Few herbicides are labeled for weed control when establishing alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)-grass mixtures. Varying the planting date of the grass in relation to alfalfa and adjusting herbicide application timing could improve weed control and forage grass safety. The research objective was to evaluate the use of glyphosate [N-(phosphonomethyl) glycine] for weed control in seedling ...
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Influence of phosphorus and potassium on alfalfa yield, taproot C and N pools, and transcript levels of key genes after defoliation
Fertilization with K and P impacts alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) yield, but how these nutrients influence taproot reserves and gene expression is unknown. Our objectives were to determine how P and K impact (i) alfalfa yield and yield components, (ii) accumulation and use of taproot carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) pools, and (iii) transcript levels for β-amylase, sucrose synthase, and the high ...
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Root-knot nematode-resistant alfalfa suppresses subsequent crop damage from the nutsedge-nematode pest complex
Southern root-knot nematode [RKN, Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid & White) Chitwood], yellow nutsedge (YNS, Cyperus esculentus L.), and purple nutsedge (PNS, C. rotundus L.) occur together as a mutually beneficial pest complex in sandy soils. All crops grown in infested soils are affected due to the wide host range of the nematode, the perennial life cycle of the nutsedges, their interactions, ...
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QTL underlying self-fertility in tetraploid alfalfa
A potential strategy to decrease the levels of self-seed production during the seed increase stages of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) synthetic cultivar development is selection for decreased self-fertility. The underlying genetics of this trait have not been elucidated and, therefore, a study was designed to identify genetic determinants of alfalfa self-fertility. An F1 mapping population ...
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An economic analysis of alfalfa harvest methods when infested with verticillium wilt
Verticillium wilt is a disease that negatively affects alfalfa fields throughout the northern United States. This disease is caused by the fungus Verticillium albo-atrum that, once introduced into alfalfa fields, spreads rapidly, becomes difficult to control, and causes substantial plant yield loss. This disease can be extremely costly for alfalfa hay producers, especially for producers where ...
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Fatty acid profiles of orchardgrass, tall fescue, perennial ryegrass, and alfalfa
Recent research shows that the meat from beef animals finished on pasture has greater concentrations of omega-3 fatty acid (FA) and conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) compared with animals finished on high-concentrate diets. However, little is known about the FA concentrations in forage that might alter these FA in the meat of pasture-finished beef. The objective was to determine the FA variation ...
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Living mulch nutritive value in a corn-soybean-forage rotation
Living mulches can function to supply forage in multifunctional cropping systems. Information quantifying nutritive value of forage plants in living mulch cropping systems is limited. The objective of this research was to quantify the nutritive value of forages from different plant functional groups managed as living mulches in 2 of 3 yr and as a forage crop in the third year of this 3-yr corn ...
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Determining the contribution of legumes in legume–grass mixtures using digital image analysis
Digital image analysis could be a rapid and precise technique for estimating legume proportions in grass swards. In 2004, we conducted a pot study to evaluate a digital image analysis (DIA) system for estimation of legume dry matter (DM) contribution in legume–grass mixtures. Examination of pure swards and binary legume–grass mixtures of red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), white clover (T. repens ...
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Do cultivar and burning affect forage yield and incidence of verticillium wilt or insect pests in alfalfa stands?
Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is one of the most important forage crops in Canada and many parts of the world. Two experiments were conducted over a 13-yr period (1989–2002) in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada with five alfalfa cultivars. In the first experiment, ‘Barrier’ and ‘Pacer’ were given three burn treatments (no burn, burn every year, and burn in alternate years) while in the second experiment ...
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Water deficit alters canopy structure but not photosynthesis during the regrowth of Alfalfa
Growth of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) following the correction of a water deficit will depend in part on the characteristics of the canopy grown during the water deficit. The current study was undertaken to determine the extent to which canopy structure and photosynthetic capacity are affected in alfalfa plants regrowing following defoliation while exposed to a water deficit. The effects of five ...
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Corn grain yield response to crop rotation and nitrogen over 35 years
Crop rotation and N are management methods that can increase corn (Zea mays L.) grain yields. Our objective was to determine the corn grain yield response to six crop rotation sequences and four N rates in a long-term (35-yr) study. The rotations were continuous corn (CC), corn–alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) (CA), corn–soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] (CS), corn-corn-corn-alfalfa-alfalfa (CCCAA), ...
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Estimating losses of dry matter from wetted Alfalfa–Orchardgrass mixtures using cell wall components as internal markers
Methods previously used to measure recoveries of dry matter (DM) from forages following natural or simulated rainfall often have relied on simple gravimetric techniques, which yielded inconclusive estimates of DM recovery. Our objective was to evaluate insoluble cell-wall constituents as internal markers for estimating recoveries of DM from alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) or alfalfa–orchardgrass ...
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An indoor screening method for improvement of freezing tolerance in alfalfa
Freezing tolerance is a determinant factor of persistence of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) grown in northern climates. Selection for winter hardiness in field nurseries is difficult because of the unpredictability of the occurrence of test winters allowing the identification of hardy genotypes. A method of selection entirely performed indoor in growth chambers and walk-in freezers has been applied ...
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Ecotoxicological responses of three ornamental herb species to cadmium
Cadmium is one of the most toxic elements. The ideal vegetal cover should be ensured by the selection of appropriate plant species for successful phytoremediation. In the present study, the ecotoxicological effects of Cd on the following 3 ornamental herbs were investigated: Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.), white clover (Trifolium repens L.), and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Based ...
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Comparison of runoff quantity and quality under annual cropping and forages
Conversion from annual cropping to perennial forages may be a beneficial management practice (BMP) to reduce runoff quantity and improve surface water quality. Runoff variables were determined in two 30 ha producer's fields over 4 years (2004–2007) using a rainfall simulator. Field 1 was cropped to barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) in 2004 and then an alfalfa (Medicago sp.) and grass mix used for ...
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