Dry Weight Of Alfalfa Research Articles

Irrigation with Coalbed Methane Co-Produced Water Reduces Forage Yield and Increases Soil Sodicity However Does Not Impact Forage Quality

The extraction of coalbed methane produces a significant amount of coalbed methane co-produced water (CBMW). Coalbed methane co-produced water is often characterized by high levels of pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), sodium (Na) and bicarbonate (HCO−3) and if used for irrigation without treatment, it may be detrimental to the surrounding soil, plants and environment. CBMW ideally should be disposed of by reinjection into the ground, but because of the significant cost associated, CBMW is commonly discharged onto soil or water surfaces. This study was conducted to elucidate the effect of the CBMW (with TDS value of <1500 ppm) at various blending ratios with fresh water on the yield and quality of representative forage crops [i.e., oat (Avena sativa) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa)]. Various blends of CBMW with fresh water reduced fresh and dry weight of alfalfa by 21.5–32% and 13–30%, respectively, and fresh and dry weight of oat by 0–17% and 0–14%, respectively. Irrigation with various blends of CBMW and fresh water increased soil pH and soil sodium adsorption ratio. However, forage quality parameters such as crude protein (CP), acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), total digestible nutrients (TDN) and relative feed value (RFV) of both forage crops remained unaffected.

Boosting Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) Production With Rhizobacteria From Various Plants in Saudi Arabia.

This study focused on rhizobacteria to promote sustainable crop production in arid regions of Saudi Arabia. The study isolated 17 tightly root-adhering rhizobacteria from various plants at Hada Al Sham in Saudi Arabia. All 17 rhizobacterial isolates were confirmed as plant growth promoting rhizobacteria by classical biochemical tests. Using 16S rDNA gene sequence analyses, the strains were identified as Bacillus, Acinetobacter and Enterobacter. Subsequently, the strains were assessed for their ability to improve the physiology, nutrient uptake, growth, and yield of alfalfa plants grown under desert agriculture conditions. The field trials were conducted in a randomized complete block design. Inoculation of alfalfa with any of these 17 strains improved the relative water content; chlorophyll a; chlorophyll b; carotenoid contents; nitrogen (N), phosphorus, and potassium contents; plant height; leaf-to-stem ratio; and fresh and dry weight. Acinetobacter pittii JD-14 was most effective to increase fresh and dry weight of alfalfa by 41 and 34%, respectively, when compared to non-inoculated control plants. Nevertheless, all strains enhanced crop traits when compared to controls plants, indicating that these desert rhizobacterial strains could be used to develop an eco-friendly biofertilizer for alfalfa and possibly other crop plants to enhance sustainable production in arid regions.

Petroleum Coke Circulating Fluidized Bed Combustion Product as a Sulfur Source for Alfalfa

: Petroleum coke circulating fluidized bed (CFB) combustion product is created when petroleum coke is combusted with limestone in a circulating fluidized bed boiler. The CFB product contains high concentrations of sulfur (S), nickel (Ni), and vanadium (V). Using it as a S source is encouraged, but little information is available related to plant responses and environmental impact. The CFB product was applied at rates of 0, 11, 33, and 110 kg S ha−1 to two agricultural soils (Canfield silt loam and Wooster silt loam). Dry weight of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and S in plant tissue was increased by the S treatments. Concentrations in alfalfa of V were increased but did not reach environmental concern levels. Concentrations in alfalfa of Ni were not increased. In the soils, only total S and plant available S were increased by these materials. No soil contamination problems were observed when CFB product was used as an S source.

Effect of Selenium-treated Alfalfa on Development, Survival, Feeding, and Oviposition Preferences ofSpodoptera exigua(Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

We examined the effect of irrigating alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) with selenium-contaminated water on the oviposition response, larval feeding preference, development and survival of the beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua Hübner, a generalist herbivore. Alfalfa was grown in sand cultures under three levels of sodium selenate irrigation: (1) control with no Se added; (2) a low rate of 0.0066 g sodium selenate/60 liters water; (3) and a high rate of 0.20 g sodium selenate/60 liters water. The low concentration treatment resulted in 2.88 ± 0.52 μg Se/g plant dry weight and did not affect percent survival to adult eclosion compared with the control at 1.26 ± 0.11 μg Se/g dry weight. The high rate generated 305.81 ± 52.14 μg Se/g dry weight of alfalfa and significantly fewer insects survived compared with insects fed control alfalfa at 1.11 ± 0.12 μg Se/g dry weight. High Se levels, but not low levels, decreased the relative growth index for larvae. In two-choice bioassays (treated/control) neonate larvae did not discriminate between control and Se-treated plants at high or low levels. Fourth instars did not discriminate between plants with low Se levels and control plants, but preferred to consume plants with high, usually lethal concentrations of Se. Females preferred ovipositing on plants with low Se concentrations over control plants, but did not discriminate between plants with high Se levels and untreated controls. This indicates that although females and late instars may be able to differentiate between Se-treated and control alfalfa they do not avoid plants containing high concentrations of Se. Thus, alfalfa with high Se-treatment levels is resistant to S. exigua, and may serve as a population “sink,” where females oviposit and few offspring survive to reproduce.

GREENHOUSE EVALUATION OF FOUR BORON FERTILIZER MATERIALS

Management of boron (B) in soils can be difficult since a narrow range exists between plant deficiency and toxicity. A greenhouse study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of four soil-applied B fertilizers varying in solubility (Granubor, Hydroboracite, Ulexite, and Colemanite) in supplying B to alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Boron was incorporated at rates of 0, 1, or 2 mg B kg−1 into Norfolk (fine-loamy, kaolinitic, thermic, Typic Kandiudults) or a Cecil (fine, kaolinitic, thermic Typic Kanhapludults) soil and planted with alfalfa. After establishment, shoots were harvested four times at approximately five-week intervals and analyzed for dry matter and B. Following the last harvest, soil samples were taken and analyzed for Mehlich-1 extractable B. There was no effect of fertilizer material, application rate, or their interaction on the dry weight of alfalfa. Boron concentrations in alfalfa did not significantly decline with each successive cutting, indicating that a sufficient amount was applied for the duration of the study. In the first cutting, plants grown with Granubor and Ulexite had higher concentrations of B than those with Hydroboracite, which was in turn higher than Colemanite, reflecting differences in solubility. However, by the third and fourth cuttings, there were no significant differences in tissue B concentrations among the four fertilizer sources. This indicates that given adequate time, even less-soluble fertilizer sources may provide sufficient B to growing plants.