Hay Yield Research Articles

RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN FORAGE YIELD AND CHARACTERS IN SOME NARBONNE VETCH (VICIA NARBONENSIS L.) CULTIVARS SOWN IN EARLY SPRING AT SUBTROPICAL CONDITIONS

The aim of this research was to determine relationships among forage yield and its some characters in Narbonne vetch cultivars sown in early spring at subtropical conditions. This investigation was conducted between 2016-2018 years at Tekirdağ Namık Kemal University, Faculty of Agriculture, Field Crops Department Research and Experimental Area in randomized complete block design with three replications. Three Narbonne vetch (Bozdağ, Dikili and Özgen) cultivars were used. The plant height, number of branches per plant, stem diameter, number of leaves per plant were determined in ten plants. The plant height, number of branches per plant, stem diameter, number of leaves per plant, herbage and hay yields ranged from 40.75-43.09 cm, 1.67-2.72, 5.70-6.57 mm, 10.27-13.73 t ha-1 and 2.28-2.89 t ha-1, respectively, in Narbonne vetch cultivars. A statistically significant and positive relationships were determined between herbage yield and hay yield, between stem diameter and herbage yield and between stem diameter and hay yield. The correlation coefficients analysis showed that the strongest effective trait on herbage yield in Narbonne vetch was the stem diameter. Stem diameter trait can be considered as the primary selection criteria for improving herbage yield in Narbonne vetch at early spring sowing in similar ecological conditions

FORAGE YIELD AND SOME QUALITY TRAITS OF PERSIAN CLOVER AT WINTER AND SPRING SOWING UNDER EDIRNE ECOLOGICAL CONDITIONS, TURKEY

The research was carried out to determine the forage yield and some quality properties of Persian clover (Trifolium resupinatum L. ssp. majus Boiss.) at different sowing times (winter and spring) under Edirne ecological conditions, Turkey. The study was conducted during 2015-2016 at Degirmenyeni village of the Edirne province in Thrace, Turkey. Experiments were planted in randomized block design with three replications. The different sowing times affected the plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves per main stem, number of branches per plant, leaf length and leaflet length. The effect of sowing times on the leaflet width was not significant. Higher herbage (29.92 t ha-1) and hay (7.05 t ha-1) yields were obtained from spring sowing. The crude protein, crude fiber, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, potassium, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus contents ranged from 20.03-20.14, 20.87-20.96, 40.42, 29.77-29.93, 1.45-1.46, 1.29-1.30, 0.48-0.49 and 0.41-0.42 %, respectively in Persian clover at different sowing times.

MicroRNA expression under phosphate deficiency stress in red clover (Trifolium pratense L.): a three-year field experiment

ABSTRACT Phosphate deficiency is a stress factor often limiting crop growth and development. The aim of this study was to determine the expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) in response to long-term phosphate stress in red clover populations in field conditions. The sensitivity of six red clover populations to phosphate stress was determined in a three-year field experiment. The results revealed that the declines in hay yield and quality under phosphate stress were less pronounced for two populations compared to the other four. Molecular analysis revealed significant down-regulation (miRNA156, miRNA171 and miRNA2111) and up-regulation (miRNA399) in the phosphate stress-tolerant populations exposed to phosphate stress, but no changes were observed in the non-phosphate stress-tolerant populations. The results collectively suggest that miRNA156, miRNA171, miRNA399 and miRNA2111 could be responsible for tolerance to phosphate limited conditions in some red clovers. These miRNAs could be used for the development of red clover plants that are tolerant of phosphate-deficient soils. In addition, since phosphate stress-tolerant populations should require less phosphate fertiliser, they would have the potential to mitigate environmental pollution from farming soils with elevated phosphate levels.

Self-Fertilization, Inbreeding, and Yield in Alfalfa Seed Production.

Selfing (self-pollination) is the ultimate form of inbreeding, or mating among close relatives. Selfing can create yield loss when inbreeding depression, defined as a lower survival and reproduction of inbred relative to outbred progeny, is present. To determine the impact of selfing in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), we quantified the selfing rate of 32 alfalfa seed production fields located in three regions, namely, the Pacific Northwest (PNW), the Central Valley of California (CEV), and the Imperial Valley of California (IMP). Selfing rates (the proportion of selfed seeds) varied between 5.3 and 30% with an average of 12.2% over the 32 seed production fields. In both the parents and their progeny, we observed an excess of heterozygotes relative to Hardy–Weinberg expectations. We detected notable levels of inbreeding in parents (0.231 ± 0.007 parental inbreeding coefficient) and progeny (0.229 ± 0.005). There were a 15% decrease in the number of seeds per stem (seed set) and a 13% decline in the number of seeds per pod in selfed relative to outcrossed stems, but negligible inbreeding depression for pods per raceme and seed weight. The number of racemes on selfed stems increased significantly in fields with greater selfing rates, supporting the presence of geitonogamous or among flower selfing. Despite the significant level of inbreeding depression, seed set did not decrease in fields with higher selfing rates, where the greater number of racemes on the selfed stems increased the seed set. The effects of the field selfing rate on the seed yield metrics were mostly indirect with direct effects of the number of racemes per stem. Available data indicate that the majority of selfing in alfalfa is pollinator-mediated, and thus, eliminating selfing in alfalfa seed production would require the selection of self-incompatible varieties, which, by eliminating inbreeding depression, would provide a 15% potential increase in seed yield and an increase in future hay yield.

Yield and Some Quality Properties of Binary Alfalfa-Grass Mixtures in Different Mixture Ratios

The aim of this investigation was to determine appropriate perennial grasses and their most suitable mixture ratios, which can be grown with alfalfa in binary mixtures. The research was conducted during 2009-2011 in Isparta (37.50 °N, 30.32 °E), located in the Western Mediterranean climate conditions. In the study, alfalfa was planted as a binary mixture with perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.), meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis Huds.), and smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.) in a randomized block design with three replications. Sowing ratios of alfalfa in the mixtures varied 20, 30, and 40%, and grass species ratios were 80, 70, and 60%. In the study, significant differences were found among the applications regarding hay yield, crude protein content, crude protein yield, NDF, ADF, land equivalent ratio (LER), and grass ratio in the hay (GR). The highest hay yield was obtained from alfalfa + orchardgrass and alfalfa + smooth bromegrass binary mixtures (25.98 and 25.78 t ha-1, respectively). Alfalfa + perennial ryegrass and alfalfa + meadow fescue mixtures gave the highest crude protein contents as 14.93 and 14.80%, respectively. The highest LER values were observed on perennial ryegrass and smooth bromegrass binary mixtures, and the highest grass ratios were determined in orchardgrass and smooth bromegrass mixtures made with alfalfa. Increasing the alfalfa sowing ratio in the mixtures positively affected all quality characteristics such as crude protein, NDF, and ADF. It was concluded that orchardgrass and smooth bromegrass binary mixtures with alfalfa produced high yield and quality hay and that the mixture should contain 40% alfalfa and 60% grass.

Bayesian Analysis of Agricultural Experiments Using PROC MCM

The purpose of this study is to present the general concept of Bayesian analysis and the Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithm and to make some numerical comparisons with frequentist analyses. A factorial randomized complete-block (RCB) experiment is used to analyze the cowpea data set that has four separate single-column replicates, each containing 9 combinations of 3 varieties and 3 spacings. Response is the yield of cowpea hay. Point estimates of variance components obtained in the Bayesian analysis under the priors presented some differences with the Restricted Maximum Likelihood (REML) estimate. The Bayesian method overestimates the variance component compared with the REML estimate. Bayesian method to agricultural experiments is a very rich and useful tool. It provides in depth study of different features of the data which are otherwise hidden and cannot be explored using other techniques. Moreover, SAS software has a power and efficiency to deal with the numerical as well as graphical features of data sets from agricultural experiments.

The Determination of Forage Yield and Quality of Some Silage Sorghum Cultivars in Ecological Conditions of Uşak Province

This study was conducted to determinate of yield and some quality characters of sorghum cultivars in Usak province in 2014. In the study was used four sorghum sudangrass hybrid (Aneto, Sugar Graze II, Greengo, Nutri Honey) and two sorghum cultivars (Teide and Rox). The experiment was carried out in completely randomized block design with three replicates. In the study, plant height, herbage yield, hay yield, crude protein (CP) ratio, crude protein yields, acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), total digestible nutrient (TDN) and relative feed value (RFV) were determined. There were significant differences in all the properties examined among sorghum and sorghum-sudangrass hybrid cultivars. According to the results of the research, plant heights of cultivars ranged from 200.1 to 229.7 cm, herbage yields ranged from 57.40 to 77.73 t ha-1, hay yields ranged from 14.11 to 18.95 t ha-1, crude protein ratios ranged from 9.95 to 11.94%, crude protein yields ranged from 1.46 to 2.15 t ha-1, ADF ratios from 36.64 to 42.41%, NDF ratios from 55.79 to 60.12%, total digestible nutrient ratios from 46.60 to 54.05%, relative feed values from 87.14 to 100.56. Greengo cultivar had higher herbage yield, hay yield, total digestible nutrient and relative feed values and lower ADF and NDF ratio than other cultivars. The results revealed that Greengo cultivar can be considered suitable for the Uşak and similar ecological conditions.

Grassland productivity estimates informed by soil moisture measurements: Statistical and mechanistic approaches

AbstractSoil moisture is a fundamental determinant of plant growth, but soil moisture measurements are rarely assimilated into grassland productivity models, in part because methods of incorporating such data into statistical and mechanistic yield models have not been adequately investigated. Therefore, our objectives were to (a) quantify statistical relationships between in situ soil moisture measurements and biomass yield on grasslands in Oklahoma and (b) develop a simple, mechanistic biomass‐yield model for grasslands capable of assimilating in situ soil moisture data. Soil moisture measurements (as fraction of available water capacity, FAW) explained 60% of the variability in county‐level wild hay yield reported by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). We next evaluated the performance of mechanistic, evapotranspiration (ET)‐driven grassland productivity models with and without assimilation of measured FAW into the models’ water balance routines. Models were calibrated by comparing estimated ET with ET measured using eddy covariance, and calibration proved essential for accurate ET estimates. Models were validated by comparing NASS county‐level hay yields to the modeled yields, which were the product of normalized transpiration estimates (the ratio of transpiration to reference ET) and an empirically derived grassland water productivity (the ratio of accumulated biomass to normalized transpiration) estimate. The mechanistic model produced more accurate estimates of wild‐hay yields with soil moisture data assimilation (Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency [NSE] = 0.55) than without (NSE = 0.10). These results suggest that improved estimates of grassland productivity could be achieved using in situ soil moisture, which could benefit grazing management decisions, wildfire preparedness, and disaster assistance programs.

Hay Production of Smooth Bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.) as Influenced by Various Management Practices in Highlands

The effects of sowing time and companion crop on hay yield, weed rate and some hay quality parameters of smooth bromegrass were determined in 2014 and 2015. Smooth bromegrass was sown in spring and summer period with or without wheat as a companion crop. The study was established according to the experimental design of randomized complete blocks in irrigated conditions with three replications. Sowings mixed with companion crop in spring produced higher dry matter yield in the first year and in the second year. Mixed sowing with companion crop decreased the rate of weeds in the first year from 76.7% to 7.8%. Sowing time was not effective on hay quality, but the use of companion crop decreased the crude protein content and increased ADF and NDF ratios in the establishment year.

THE EFFECT OF TIME OF INITIAL CUTTING ON FORAGE YIELD AND QUALITY OF THREE PASTURE GRASSES AT SHIKA, NIGERIA

The effect of time of cutting on yield and nutritive value of three year old pastures of signal (Brachiaria decumbens), green panic (Panicum maximum var. trichoglume) and buffel (Cenchrus ciliaris ev. Gayndah) grasses were studied. The pastures were harvested for hay yield on 5th November, 1977 and allowed to rest until subjection to initial cut in June, July, August or September, 1978. Immediately after the July cut, all the plots received 100kg N/ha and 40kg P205/ha. Regrowths from the initial cuts and the control (uninterrupted growth) were all cut on 16th November, 1978. The dry matter (DM) yields of the grasses increased with increasing stage of maturity. Signal grass was more productive (P < 0.05) (17.3t/ha) than the other grasses averaged over the cutting dates. The yields of green panic and buffel grasses were 8.3 and 11.0t/ha respectively. The regrowth DM yields declined with a delay in the initial cut. Except for the increases in CP (6.9%) and IVDMD (50.1%) contents of the primary growth in August, these parameters declined as the grasses aged. Deferring the initial cutting date resulted in significant (P < 0.05) increases in CP and IVDMD contents of the regrowths. Percent increases as a result of cutting at the different date over the control for DM and CP yield were 28 and 74, respectively. Further evaluation of the three species in grazing trial is suggested.

English

Alfalfa is an important legume forage with high nutritional quality. Harvest stage has an essential impact on alfalfa hay yield and nutritional quality. However, there is no clear indication about the effects of harvest time on the production performance, overwintering rate and economic benefits of alfalfa under drip irrigation. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the impact of harvesting at bud stage (FB), 5% flowering stage (F5%), 15% flowering stage (F15%), and full bloom stage (F50%) on hay yield and quality, and economic benefits of two alfalfa cultivars i.e.,WL354HQ and Magnum551. Harvesting time had significant effect on hay yield of both cultivars (P ≤0.05) and the order of total dry matter yield (TDMY)was: F5%> F15%> F50%> FB. The alfalfa crude protein (CP)content of each cutting in alfalfa decreased gradually with the advance of the harvest stage, while the neutral detergent fiber (NDF)and acid detergent fiber (ADF)contents gradually increased. A comprehensive analysis of alfalfa dry matter yield(DMY), quality and overwintering rate was used to analyze the fuzzy similarity priority ratio, and the priority ranking was as follows: FB> F5%> F15%> F50%.Maximum economic benefits of both alfalfa cultivars were obtained atF5%harvest time, reaching 2703$ha-1 (WL354HQ) and 2585 $ha-1(Magnum551), followed by FB, F15%, and F50%. Therefore, in order to get more hay yield and economic returns, harvesting at 5% flowering stage of alfalfa seemed viable option under drip irrigation.© 2021 Friends Science Publishers

Forage yield trend of alfalfa cultivars in the Canadian prairies and its relation to environmental factors and harvest management

AbstractAlfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is one of the most important forage crops in the world. The objectives of this study were to assess alfalfa yield improvement in the Canadian prairies, and determine critical climatic factors influencing alfalfa yield in different soil zones. Forage yield data of alfalfa cultivars tested from 1997 to 2011 in the Western Forage Variety Testing System were used for the analysis. There was no significant trend of alfalfa yield increase in western Canada except at Saskatoon, SK. Regrowth yield of alfalfa cultivars released from 2000 to 2011, however, showed a significant (p ≤ 0.05) increase under irrigation. Based on structural equation modelling (SEM), at rain‐fed sites, precipitation from April to June was the most important driver for the farm hay yield (1st‐cut). Forage yield of alfalfa, however, was not associated with winter extreme temperatures, or number of days with freeze‐thaw temperatures in April. Alfalfa yields were greatest under a 3‐cut than 1‐ or 2‐cut systems in the first production year, but this difference declined as stands became older. Alfalfa stands that were harvested more frequently were less responsive to growing season rain, but responded more strongly to increased snow cover, which may indicate reduced growth and less winder hardiness. At the irrigated sites, 1st‐cut forage yield increased with accumulated temperatures above 5°C from April to June. Development of alfalfa cultivars with tolerance to early season drought and improved regrowth, without reducing winter hardiness, would be necessary to stabilize alfalfa production under changing climate in the Canadian prairies.

Orta ve Batı Karadeniz Bölgesinden Toplanan Yulaf Genotiplerinin Değerlendirilmesi

Yulaf dünyada hayvan yemi, gıda, kozmetik ve ilaç sanayi gibi birçok alanda kullanılan çok amaçlı bir tahıldır. Bu çalışmada Türkiye’nin Orta ve Batı Karadeniz Bölgesindeki 10 ilden toplanan 251 adet yerel yulaf genotipi kullanılmıştır. Toplanan genotipler 4 standart yulaf çeşidi ile birlikte Augmented deneme desenine göre Samsun Ondokuz Mayıs Üniversitesi Ziraat Fakültesi Araştırma ve Uygulama alanında iki yıl süreyle yetiştirilmiştir. Çalışmada, salkım gösterme süresi, olgunlaşma süresi, bitki boyu, sap kalınlığı, bayrak yaprak uzunluğu, bayrak yaprak genişliği, kuru ot verimi ve tane verimi incelenmiştir. İncelenen bütün özellikler bakımından genotipler ve yıl x genotip interaksiyonları arasında istatistiki olarak önemli (p<0.01) farklar olduğu belirlenmiştir. Genotiplerin ortalama kuru ot verimi 326 ile 1479 kg da-1 ve tane verimi 128.7 ile 572.4 kg da-1 arasında değişmiştir. Biplot grafiğine göre, tane verimi ile kuru ot verimi, bitki boyu, sap kalınlığı, bayrak yaprak uzunluğu ve yatma durumu arasında olumlu ilişki belirlenmiştir. Ayrıca, incelenen özelliklerin populasyonların toplandığı illere göre değiştiği belirlenmiştir.

Microclimate, crop quality, productivity, and revenue in two types of agroforestry systems in drylands of Xinjiang, northwest China

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of agroforestry systems with narrow rows on microclimate, crop quality, productivity, and revenue when compared with that in sole-cropping in drylands. Therefore, two-year field experiments were conducted to determine the characteristics of two types of agroforestry systems in drylands of Xinjiang including photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), air temperature, crop protein content, productivity, and revenue. The two systems included (1) a jujube tree (Zizyphus jujuba Mill.) + wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) intercropping (JWI) system and (2) a poplar tree (Populus L.) + alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) silvopastoral (PAS) system located in southern and northern Xinjiang, respectively. Variables were measured in control sole-cropping plots and in the alleys of JWI and PAS system plots at different distances from the tree row. PAR and air temperature both decreased in plots of the JWI and PAS systems. The changes in microclimatic conditions and competition for resources in the JWI and PAS systems resulted in an overall decrease in wheat grain and alfalfa hay yield and decreases in the overall protein content of wheat grain and alfalfa. In JWI and PAS systems, the yield and protein content of understory crops, PAR, and air temperature were highest at the center line of the system alley and decreased with decreasing distances from the tree row. The PAS system was more productive than the JWI system based on the calculated land equivalent ratio (LER), because no significant decrease was observed in tree yield in the PAS system. Both the JWI and PAS systems resulted in an increase in the annual total crop revenue when compared with individual crop management, indicating that the JWI and PAS systems could provide greater long-term economic benefits. Therefore, the balance between yield, crop quality, and revenue have to be taken into account in the analysis of agroforestry systems.

Mardin Ekolojik Koşullarında Farklı Ekim Zamanı Uygulamalarının İkinci Ürün Silaj Mısır (Zea mays L.) Çeşitlerinin Verim ve Verim Unsurları Üzerine Etkisinin Araştırılması

This study was carried out in Mardin / Kızıltepe ecological conditions during the second crop growing period to determine the adaptation characteristics and the effects of different sowing times on silage yield and quality of five different maize varieties obtained from public institutions and private companies. In the experiments carried out as the second crop in a farmer field in 2018-2019 in Köprübaşı Village of Kızıltepe district of Mardin, plantings were carried out with five different silage maize varieties on 25 June, 5 July, 15 July and 25 July dates. Obtained plant heights were 260-318 cm; plant stem diameters were 20.4-25.0 mm; stalk ratios were 51.4-55.4%; leaf rates were 18.8-20.5%; cob rates were between 24.5-28.7%, green grass yields were 6.4-10.2 t / da, hay yields were 1.6-2.6 t / da in the research. Among the varieties, the highest green grass yield was obtained from OSSK644 variety in the second planting time (05 July). According to the results of the research; in terms of green grass yield in Mardin / Kızıltepe ecological conditions, OSSK644 variety is recommended to be planted on July 05.

Successional structure and useful condition of mowing-and-grazing landscapes

The paper presents data on the indicators of livestock production, the number of farm animals and poultry in the Tyumen region. The characteristics and significance of near-village forage lands are given. The studied forage lands are assigned to the forest-steppe lowland latitudinal-zonal area of the Kurgan province and contain valuable species of herbs: Calamagrostis epigejos, Bromopsis inermis, Festuca pratensis, Vicia villosa Roth, Trifolium rubens L., Medicago falcata. The territory of pastures is used for mowing and grazing animals of the individual sector, which prevents sodding and degeneration and has a significant impact on the consistent regular change of the biological community (phytocoenosis, microbial community, etc.). The hay yield is 14.7 c/ha, which corresponds to natural meadows without cultivation. To improve the quality of hay and yield, the authors suggest carrying out agrotechnical measures: compliance with the terms of mowing the grass - a week before flowering or at the beginning of flowering of meadow grasses; introduction of potash fertilizers, which will increase the content of grasses in the herbage and will reduce the specific weight of forbs; application of nitrogen fertilizer in a mixture with potash and complete mineral fertilization, which will reduce the level of forbs by almost half; undersowing of leguminous grasses.

Підвищення біопродуктивності засолених та ерозійно небезпечних земель Донецької області шляхом залуження

A survey of the soil cover and the state of natural grass cover of saline and erosively dangerous lands of the valley and the beam system of the Sukha Yali River was carried out. Low-productive saline lands are located on the slopes and bottoms of beams, micro-lowering of lower and floodplain meadows. Plant communities confined to such soils are characterized by low species richness and poverty of fodder valuable species. The results of research on the improvement of unproductive lands on saline soils by sowing a set of forage grasses that are able to grow in conditions of soil salinity and have a high forage value are presented. It was found that during the observation period the yield of green mass and hay in all variants was much higher than the yield of natural grass. The biochemical composition of forage grasses is characterized by an increased content of crude protein, carbohydrates, vitamin C and essential amino acids. The data on the introduction of honey grasses for the improvement of saline forage lands in the complex with wild honeysuckles are given, their nectariness is determined. Bioagronomic evaluation of forage plants growing on chernozem salt marsh was carried out. Recommendations for the improvement of forage lands on saline and saline soils are given.

Productivity of sudan grass and sorghum-sudangrass hybrids depending on seeding rates and planting methods in the steppe dryland zone of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic

The article contains the results of three-year field research in the steppe dryland zone of the republic, the best options of grass sorghum cultivation, which increase the gross yield of green forage and hay were developed. Optimum planting standards for dry steppe conditions, planting and harvesting methods of Sudan grass and sorghum-Sudangrass hybrids were identified to produce a high, more energy-intensive green and dry forage of the studied crops. The quality and feed qualities of fodder for production and direct feeding to animals are determined. The crop growing time after hay harvest and quantity for feeding after harvesting are given.

Formation of soil microflora inTrifolium pratense’sagrocenosis depending on the method of tillage

The biological activity of the soil was studied according to the indicators of the number of microflora on the dark gray podzolic soil of the western Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. The influence of the methods of tillage on the course of biological processes underTrifolium pratenseis clarified. The relationship between the quantitative characteristics of the microbial grouping of soil agrocenosis of the culture, its biological activity and methods of tillage. It was found that the largest number of microorganisms was observed in the variants of combined tillage. Over the years of research, the highest yield of hay was obtained by the Combined tillage (124.5 c / ha), the lowest - by chisel tillage (106.5 c / ha), which is due to changes in microbiological activity of the soil.

Effects of Subsurface Drip Irrigation on Water Consumption and Yields of Alfalfa under Different Water and Fertilizer Conditions

A field experiment was conducted for the purpose of examining the effects of different combinations of water and fertilizer applications on the water consumption and yields of alfalfa under subsurface drip irrigation (SDI). The results showed that the jointing and branching stages were the key stages for alfalfa water requirement. The water consumption had varied greatly (from 130 to 170 mm) during the growth period of each alfalfa crop. The water consumption during the whole growth period was approximately 500 mm, and the maximum water consumption intensity was 3.64 mm·d-1. The overall changes in water consumption and yields during the growth period of the alfalfa displayed trends of first increasing and then decreasing. The sensitivities of the yields to water changes were much higher than that of fertilizer. The water use efficiency (WUE) of the alfalfa was determined to range from 1.68 to 3.20 kg·m-3, and the rate of growth had ranged from 4.85% to 51.77%. The WUE and rate of growth of the alfalfa indicated the following trend: second crop &gt; third crop &gt; first crop. The results of frequency analysis based on the water‐nitrogen‐yield regression equation are the following: irrigation amounts of 142~165 mm and nitrogen application of 61~80 kg·hm-2 have a 95% probability of obtaining a hay yield of alfalfa of more than 11903 kg·hm-2. These results suggest that SDI is a promising irrigation method, which can increase the WUE and hay yield of alfalfa under the condition of SDI within an appropriate amount of water and nitrogen fertilizer, and too low or too high water and nitrogen fertilizer will adversely affect the WUE and hay yield of alfalfa.