Effect of cutting interval and winter dormancy on yield, persistence, nitrogen concentration, and root reserves of irrigated lucerne in the Queensland subtropics

Abstract

The use of fixed interval or growth stage (crown bud elongation) cutting management for lucerne was studied for cultivars with dormancy characteristics ranging from highly winter-active to winter-dormant. Fixed cutting intervals ranged from 3 to 8 weeks and were imposed on irrigated stands in a subtropical environment. Persistence, dry matter yield, weed yield, nitrogen (N) concentration and yield, and root reserves were measured over a 2-year period. For cultivars from all dormancy classes, persistence was highest with either 5- or 6-weekly cutting, while dry matter yield was maximised with 5-weekly cutting. Nitrogen concentration was highest with 3-weekly cutting but N yield was greatest under 4-weekly cutting. Root reserves were not maintained unless the cutting interval was extended beyond 7 weeks. Growth stage cutting produced equivalent yields and persistence but lower N concentrations and root reserves than the best fixed interval cutting treatment. There was no evidence that cultivars of different dormancy classes require different cutting management to obtain optimum performance. Therefore, a fixed cutting frequency of 5 weeks throughout the year is an acceptable management compromise for all lucerne cultivars, combining high dry matter and N yields with acceptable levels of foliar N and root reserves. Although the more complex management decisions associated with growth stage cutting appear unwarranted, dry matter yield could be maximised by using a flexible cutting schedule which matched cutting interval with growth rate (4 weeks in summer and 7 weeks in winter).