Weeds and Alfalfa Hay Quality

Abstract

Established stands of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L. ‘Lahontan’) at six field locations were treated with soil-active herbicides during the dormant period for the control of winter annual weeds. Weeds and alfalfa were hand separated at the first harvest. This forage, which varied widely in weed content, was analyzed for protein. The percentage of protein correlated negatively with weed content in all cases. Analyses of covariance revealed that the direct effect of the herbicides on protein content was either small or absent and that the primary cause of the negative correlations was weed content.