Abstract
The study was conducted with the objective to identify adaptable, high biomass yield, leaf to steam ratio and good quality yield of Alfalfa cultivars at Bore Agricultural research center. Eight Alfalfa cultivars; Hunter river, Magna-801-FG, Pioneer (1995) DZF-406, Segule1396 (408), Peruvian DZF (406), F-G-9-09, F-L-L-77-(406) and Hunter river (4010) were tested in RCBD with three replications. Plant height was significantly (P<0.05) higher for Hairy (1995) DZF-406 cultivar (83 cm) while lower for Magna-801-FG. Disease resistance was significantly differ (P<0.05) among cultivars. Segule (1396)-408 cultivars were highly resistant to diseases compared to others. Leaf to stem ratio, biomass yield and seed yield were not show significant (P>0.05) different among treatments. Chemical compositions of NDF, ADL and CP were significantly (P<0.05) different among treatments. The superior ADL was obtained from Segule (1396)-408 cultivar (32.5%) while, low was obtained from F-L-L-77 (406) cultivar. The superior NDF was obtained from Poineer (1995) DZF-406 cultivar (70.7%) whereas; the low was from Peruvien- DZF- 406 cultivar (45.9%). The CP yield showed significant (P<0.05) difference among cultivars. Magna- 801-FG cultivar had the superior (26.3%) CP while, Segule (1396)-408 cultivar (11.3%) had the inferior CP content. Cultivar F-G-9-09 was produce superior in DM (91.8%) and less in ADL (9.3%) while Segule 1396 (1396)-408 cultivar produce (91.3%) DM and lower in TASH (10.8%). superior OM was obtained from Segule 1396 (408) cultivar (80.4%) compared to others. Based on its yield, plant height, biomass yield and chemical compositions, good DM and OM Peruvien- DZF- 406, F-L-L-77 (406,) Segule-1396 (408) and F-G-9-09 is recommended for further promotion in the highland and midland of Guji and similar agro-ecologies.
Highlights
Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is often recognized as one of the most important perennial forage legumes worldwide and is widely known as the “queen of the forages” due to its ability to consistently produce high forage yield and forage quality and adaptability to different climatic conditions [1, 2]
Combined mean values of agronomic characters, mean values of agronomic traits and yield components of Alfalfa cultivars on different locations and combine mean values of chemical compositions are presented in Table 1, Table 2 and Table 3 respectively
From eight Alfalfa adapted at Bore Agricultural research center, four cultivars Hunter River (4010), Poineer (1995) DZF-406, Hunter River and F-L-L-77 (406) were highly attacked by diseases while Magna- 801-FG, PeruvienDZF- 406, F-G-9-09 and Segule (1396)-408 cultivars were resistant to diseases compared to the other cultivars observed in the study areas over two consecutive years
Summary
Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is often recognized as one of the most important perennial forage legumes worldwide and is widely known as the “queen of the forages” due to its ability to consistently produce high forage yield and forage quality and adaptability to different climatic conditions [1, 2]. Alfalfa is a drought tolerant forage crop because it has a deep root system that reaches down to 4 m and to 7-9 m in well drained soils. The optimum growing air and soil temperatures for alfalfa are 27°C and 12°C respectively, but it is tolerant of air temperatures above and below 27°C [5]. This forage legume is known as an effective source of biological nitrogen fixation, an energy-efficient crop to grow and an important source of protein yield. Alfalfa does not grow well on soils where root growth is limited such as shallow hardpans, high water tables, bedrock or acidic sub soils [7]
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