The Effects of the Soil Types upon the Growth and Chemical Composition of Bahiagrass and Alfalfa Grown Alone and in Association

Abstract

This experiment was carried out to determine the effects of the soil types on the growth and chemical composition of Bahiagrass and alfalfa grown alone and in association. The seventeen soil types collected for this experiment were derived from widely different materials varying considerably in the physical and chemical properties of each soil type. The results obtained were summarized as follows: 1. The growth of Bahiagrass was scarcely affected by the soil types used in this experiment. The fact suggests that Bahiagrass is adapted to a variety of soils. 2. As increased the frequency of cutting in the mixture of Bahiagrass and alfalfa, the dry matter yield of Bahiagrass increased and that of alfalfa decreased in many cases of the soil type. 3. The harmful effect of successive cropping of alfalfa was observed in this experiment, and the extent of effect widely varied according to the soil types. 4. Soil type had a marked effect on the crude protein content in the top of Bahiagrass and alfalfa. In many types of the soil, in the first cutting of Bahiagrass and alfalfa mixture, it was observed that the higher the alfalfa content the higher the crude protein content of Bahiagrass in this grass-legume mixture, however, in the second and third cutting, this tendency could not be observed in several types of the soil within the above mentioned soil types.