Abstract
Understanding the relationship between dry matter yield and nutritive value throughout the growing season will help optimize the cutting intervals between harvests in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). The Ogallala Aquifer is a very important water source when growing alfalfa in Southwest Kansas and unfortunately, the water level of the Ogallala Aquifer is shrinking. The objective of this study was to determine the optimum cutting interval that optimizes dry matter yield and nutritive values of alfalfa. Alfalfa was harvested with different cutting intervals, i.e., every 28, 35, 42 and 49 day, which was equivalent of 5, 4, 4, and 3 cuttings per year, respectively in 2013 and 2014. Based on 2-yr total yield, by delaying alfalfa harvest by 21 days, i.e., from every 28th day to 49th day, alfalfa yield increased by 2.25 Mg/ha whereas by 5.58 Mg/ha by delaying cutting intervals from every 28th day to 42nd day. Although harvesting alfalfa every 42nd day had the same cutting frequency as the 35th day treatment (i.e., 4 cuttings per year), the treatment harvesting every 42nd day had significantly higher alfalfa yield than 35th day cutting interval. Alfalfa yield increased by approximately 20% by delaying one week for harvesting alfalfa from 35th to 42nd day interval, based on dry matter yields of 2013 and 2014. As cutting interval increased from every 28th to 49th day, crude protein (CP) content decreased. In contrast to CP, acid detergent fiber and neutral detergent fiber increased as the cutting interval and stage of maturity increased in 2013 and 2014. The results suggest that alfalfa producers in Southwest Kansas possibly could reduce the cutting frequency from 5 to 4 per year. Cutting interval of every 42nd day between harvests appears to be the optimum when considered a dry matter yield and nutritive values in alfalfa.
Highlights
Alfalfa is one of the most important hays as a cash crop in Southwest Kansas producing more than 70% of the alfalfa in Kansas [1] and is a very important forage to the dairy and beef industry in Kansas
Based on 2-yr total yield, by delaying alfalfa harvest by 21 days, i.e., from every 28th day to 49th day, alfalfa yield increased by 2.25 Mg/ha whereas by 5.58 Mg/ha by delaying cutting intervals from every 28th day to 42nd day
Based on 2-yr total dry matter yield in 2013 and 2014, alfalfa yield increased by 2.25 Mg/ha by delaying alfalfa harvest by 21 days, i.e., from every 28th day to 49th day whereas by 5.58 Mg/ha by delaying cutting intervals from every 28th day to 42nd day
Summary
Alfalfa is one of the most important hays as a cash crop in Southwest Kansas producing more than 70% of the alfalfa in Kansas [1] and is a very important forage to the dairy and beef industry in Kansas. Alfalfa is harvested five times a year in Southwest Kansas under irrigation, and proper harvest managements such as cutting intervals between harvests is essential to profitable alfalfa production, in the manipulation of forage quality and yield. Several studies reported that as the cutting interval between harvests increased, dry matter yield of alfalfa generally increased while forage quality decreased [2]-[5]. Albrecht et al [6] and Sheaffer et al [5] reported that the decline in forage quality with increasing cutting interval between harvests was associated with increasing stem growth and decreasing leaf proportion, and decreasing stem nutritive value. The objective of this study was to determine the optimum cutting interval that optimized dry matter yield and nutritive values of alfalfa in Southwest Kansas, USA
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