Lucerne Sown Research Articles

Potential of lucerne sowing rate to influence root development and its implications for field stand productivity

AbstractThe relationship between root morphology and productivity in lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) has been well documented, but the effect of sowing rate on root development is unclear. Results from three field experiments were analysed to address these objectives: (a) to investigate lucerne root development as a function of distance among plants, (b) to evaluate the effect of sowing rates on lucerne root traits and (c) to investigate the relationship between root traits and forage yield and yield components. A 4‐year experiment that compared spaced plants (50 × 50 cm, four plants m2) versus row seeding (12.5 cm, 700 germinated seeds m−2) revealed fast annual tap‐root diameter (TD) development in spaced plants, with about 12 mm, and three times greater TD and five times the lateral root number compared with row‐spaced plants. Three‐year field plot experiments at one site compared sowing rates of 400 versus 700 germinated seeds m−2 in less favourable soil for lucerne, and 700 versus 900 seeds m−2 in a better soil. Across experiments, higher plant density and root potential index were positively related to forage yield only when in association with better soil conditions and optimal water supply. Lower plant density offered advantages for faster root development. An effect of reduction in the sowing rate was increased stand height and increased yield in the third cut in a year with drought stress. Results show the need for investigation of effects of more precise spatial arrangement of lucerne plants to ensure optimization of root development and to enable yield benefits and drought resistance.

Seed productivity of alfalfa varieties and its components

Alfalfa blue is a perennial, multi-cut herbaceous plant. The expansion of the lucerne sowing areas does not occur due to the lack of sufficient sowing material, which in turn is due to low seed productivity. The solution to this problem is possible only when moving to new varieties with high potential for seed yield and introducing improved technologies. Our article shows the characteristic of new varieties of alfalfa of the Ershovsky selection. New varieties Serena and Natalie had the highest seed harvest rates in 9 years. Natalie variety on average for 9 years (2009-2017) by the number of brushes on one stem, the number of seeds in the bean and the number of beans in the brush was higher than the Uzen variety-standard by 5.0 respectively; 11.0 and 6.0%. According to the correlation analysis of the indicators, the crop of seeds and seeds in the bean is significant positive.

Agroecological Assessment of Rice Crop Rotation Soils of the Sarpinskaya Lowland

Abstract—The phytomeliorative properties of accompanying crops of rice crop rotations and the degree of their influence on the soil fertility indicators in rice fields are studied. The experimental studies were conducted in rice checks located in the zone of activity of the Sarpinskaya watering and irrigation system in the Republic of Kalmykia, the source of which is the Volga River. The soil cover of the rice fields is represented by solonetzic light chestnut and brown semidesert soils in combination with solonetzes. To diversify the rice-degraded agrolandscapes, the effect of phytomeliorants on soil fertility of the rice fields was studied. It has been revealed that it is necessary to provide for the cultivation of accompanying crops of the rice crop rotation (spring rape, sarepta mustard, sunflower, lucerne sowing) with the use of residual moisture reserves after rice cultivation in order to improve the meliorative state and increase the soil fertility of the rice fields. An agroecological assessment of the soils of rice crop rotations has been carried out, which has shown the effectiveness of the meliorating influence of ameliorant crops, which consists in enriching the soil with organic matter due to additional plant residues entering the soil, increasing its biological activity, and improving agrophysical and agrohydrological properties.

Agroecological estimation of soilsdraft soviets of Sarpin lower

The purpose of the research is to study the phytomeliorative properties of the accompanying crops of rice crop rotations and the degree of their influence on the soil fertility indicators of rice fields. Experimental studies are conducted on rice pouches located in the zone of activity of the Sarpinskaya irrigation and irrigation system of the Republic of Kalmykia, the source of which is the river Volga. The soil cover of rice fields is represented by solonetzic light chestnut and brown semi-desert soils in combination with solonetzes. To diversify into rice degraded agro landscapes, the effect of phyto-meliorants on soil fertility of rice fields was studied. It has been revealed that in order to improve the meliorative state and increase the soil fertility of rice fields, it is necessary to provide for the cultivation of accompanying crops of rice cropland (spring rape, mustard, sunflower, lucerne sowing) with the use of residual moisture reserves after rice. Agroecological assessment of soils of rice crop rotations has been carried out, which has shown the effectiveness of meliorating influence of ameliorant crops, which consists in enriching the soil with organic matter due to additional plant residues entering the soil, increasing its biological activity, improving agrophysical and agrohydrological properties.

Rosana – a new variety of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)

Aim. Lucerne sowing in Ukraine is one of the most common fodder crops from perennial legumes. Most varieties grown today are not sufficiently adapted to a number of unfavorable abiotic and biotic environmental factors. Rosana variety was created to solve some of the above problems under the conditions of the Polissya and the forest-steppe of Ukraine. Methods. 560 plants, differing in high winter resistance and a set of economic and valuable features, were selected from the grassland of Regent's varieties of alfalfa, created in previous years from genetic plasma of varieties WL 202 (USA) and Veselopodolianska 11 (Ukraine). During the four study cycles, gumboil counts were carried out at the level of green mass and seed yield, leafyness, resistance to pathogens of root rot and other diseases, intensity of regrowth in spring and autumn. Results. The Rosana variety is similar to the Regina variety in the form of a bush, the size of leaves, the height of plants, the duration of individual phases of growth and development, and the class of rest. The variety is characterized by high intensity of regrowth, during the growing season can form 3–4 slopes, with increased feed quality, increased seed yield. Resistant to root rot, drought-proof and winter-resistant. Resistant to sinking. Medieval The period of productive longevity is 4–5 years. The height of the plants of the first slope is 80–90 cm. The yield of the seeds is 0.5 t / ha. Collection of dry matter – 14.5–15.0 t / ha. Protein content – 20.9 %, cellulose – 21.4 %. The first slope is 54–55 days. Clearness – 48 %. Conclusions. The quality of Rosana's fodder and seed yield is significantly higher than the Regina variety and the conditional standard. Characterized by a number of other economic and valuable features. It is recommended for distribution in Polissya and Forest-steppe zones of Ukraine in clean and mixed crops with other perennial herbs for the production of high-quality feed (haylage, hay, herbal pellets).
 Keywords: alfalfa crop, varietal, winter resistance, dry matter, seeds.

Development of lucerne root morphology traits in lucerne-grass mixture in relation to forage yield and root disease score

It is a common practice to grow lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) in mixture with grass. The development of lucerne root morphology along with concomitant forage mixture growth, however, has been rarely studied in multi-year field experiments. Our objectives were: (i) to assess the effect of a grass component on lucerne root trait development, (ii) to evaluate changes in forage yield and aboveground traits in the lucerne monocultures and lucerne-grass mixtures and (iii) to investigate the relationships between root traits and lucerne yield, total forage yield, as well as forage aboveground traits, using multivariate methods. Treatments were a factorial combination of four lucerne varieties and three lucerne sowing ratios [100% (L100), 90% (L90) and 75% (L75)] with grass hybrid Festuca pratensis × Lolium multiflorum under a three-cut harvesting regime in a 4-year experiment. Lucerne yield, total forage yield and forage aboveground traits were evaluated at each cut. Each autumn, lucerne plants were evaluated for root morphology traits and scored for root disease. The negative impact of the presence of a grass component on lucerne root morphology development was observed only in combination with the higher lucerne sowing ratio (L90), with reduced intensity of root branching and increased depth of the first lateral root. In two post-seeding years out of three, total forage yield was 4–8 % higher for lucerne-grass mixture in comparison with monoculture. From all lucerne yield components in the mixture, stem density was the best predictor for lucerne yield. Lucerne root morphology explains about 10% of forage yield and aboveground traits variability where calculated root potential index, lucerne plant density and root dry matter mostly correlated with lucerne yield in the mixture. Root potential index was an effective indicator for monitoring root development and was even effective for comparing lucerne varieties in mixture. Understanding the relationships between root morphology development and lucerne stand performance in a mixture can help in optimization of sowing ratio and stand evaluation.

Relationship between Plant Species Diversity and Plant Biomass of Orchard Grass and Lucerne Sown in Different Ratios in the Province of Salamanca, Spain

A field experiment was carried out at the CSIC Mu&#241ovela farm belonging to the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) in order to evaluate the effect of sowing orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata var. Trerano) and lucerne (Medicago sativa var. Aragon) in monoculture and in combination. The experiment was based on a randomized block designed with a factorial arrangement (5 × 2). Experimental units were 40 plots distributed in four blocks. The phosphorus fertilization (P) factor included two types of conditions: basal fertilization without phosphorus (-P) and basal fertilization with phosphorus (+P), and the vegetation cover factor (T) included five conditions depending on the grass (G) and the legume (L). Above-ground biomass showed statistically significant differences among seasons and years (P Lolium perenne L. and Poa pratensis L. throughout the three years indicated that both species significantly increased their presence over time regardless of the treatments applied. The analysis performed for the other plant species (those other than grasses and legumes) allowed us to determine that the T1 and T5 treatments, which correspond to single species not treated with the application of phosphorus, influenced the presence of 70% of other species planted. Our specific aim was to explore how changing plant biotic diversity affects productivity under a given set of conditions. We manipulated plant species richness as an experimental factor to determine if productivity would be affected by changes in the ratios of plants sown.

Effectiveness of three inoculation methods for lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) in two Canterbury soils

The efficacy of ALOSCA®, coated and peat seed inoculant treatments on the nodulation of lucerne sown in two soils in Canterbury, New Zealand was investigated. The commercial inoculant was Sinorhizobium meliloti strain RRI128. It was recovered from the nodules of lucerne plants grown from ALOSCA®, peat and coated seed at both sites. Coated seed had the highest nodule occupancy with 45% and 47% of nodules containing S. meliloti strain RRI128 at the Ashley Dene and Lincoln University field sites, respectively. ALOSCA® had only 9% and 16% of nodules from the Ashley Dene and Lincoln University field sites, respectively, containing S. meliloti strain RRI128. Naturalised Rhizobium strains were also recovered from the nodules of lucerne plants grown from ALOSCA®, coated and peat seed inoculant treatments. A single genotype (genotype A) of a Rhizobium sp. was recovered more frequently than the inoculated S. meliloti strain in the nodules of plants grown from peat treated seed at Lincoln University (30% vs 22%) and in the nodules of ALOSCA® treated seed at Ashley Dene (54% vs 9%). Bare seed was also nodulated by the Rhizobium sp. genotype A with 57% and 28% of nodules from plants grown from uninoculated seed at Ashley Dene and Lincoln University, respectively, containing this strain. This research shows delivery by an appropriate inoculation treatment is required to maximise occupancy by the commercial strain.

Response of lucerne and chicory mixes to a rare high summer rainfall event in western Victoria

Two experiments were conducted at Hamilton, Victoria, Australia to test the hypothesis that sowing pastures with lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) or chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) increases dry matter (DM) production and nutritive characteristics during summer and autumn, relative to equivalent mixes with subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.). Both experiments were randomised complete block designs with four replications. Rainfall over January–March 2011 was 339 mm, which is more than three times the long-term average (LTA) of 102 mm for this period. In Exp. 1, tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.)/subterranean clover had higher (P < 0.05) DM production over January–March 2011 than tall fescue/chicory. In Exp. 2, chicory/lucerne had higher (P < 0.05) DM production than chicory/subterranean clover, but not lucerne sown alone (P > 0.05). Tall fescue/lucerne and cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.)/lucerne did not differ (P > 0.05) from lucerne sown alone or from tall fescue or cocksfoot with subterranean clover. In January 2011, average estimated metabolisable energy (ME) and crude protein (CP) for the chicory, lucerne and grasses were 11.6, 10.2 and 9.6 MJ/kg DM and 22.0, 22.6 and 13.1% DM, respectively. In March 2011, average estimated ME and CP for the chicory, lucerne and grasses were 11.2, 10.8 and 10.2 MJ/kg DM and 20.9, 26.0 and 14.9% DM, respectively.

Yield components, light interception and radiation use efficiency of lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) in response to row spacing

Lucerne sowing is characterized by a rectangular spatial arrangement, i.e. greater distance between sowing rows than between plants in the row. Therefore, the reduction of row spacing generates more square spatial arrangements that can influence intraspecific competition and resource utilization, especially radiation, and thus biomass. The experiment included different row spacings (10–15–17.5–20 and 30cm) at the same plant density in a pure lucerne crop during the first production year. Total aerial dry matter (ADM) was increased by narrow spacing (more square arrangements) up to an optimal distance (around 13cm) (R2=0.60). ADM ranged from 2292 to 1670gDMm−2 for 15 and 30cm row spacing, respectively. Plant density was the forage yield component most affected by row spacing and it increased with narrow spacing (0.15≥R2≤0.5). ADM responses to reduced row spacing were positive as revealed by both a linear increase in radiation interception (PARia) (R2=0.76) and an optimal pattern in radiation use efficiency (RUE) (R2=0.45). PARia in the first year showed an increase of 8MJcm−1 of spacing reduction. RUE values ranged from 2.0 to 1.6gDMMJ−1 for 15 and 30cm row spacing, respectively. The leaf area index (LAI) was also affected by row spacing. Additionally, seasonal variation was found for the main variables but did not interact with row spacing. In conclusion, reducing row spacing to an optimal distance is a practice that allows for more favourable spatial arrangements of a lucerne crop and has a positive impact on forage production.

Effect of soil acidity and liming on lucerne and following crops in central-western New South Wales

On some of the lighter textured soils in the wheatbelt of central-western New South Wales near Dubbo, soil acidity is a major problem, and lucerne (Medicago sativa) often establishes and grows poorly. We selected a site with a surface soil pHCa of 4.4 and an exchangeable aluminium of 0.4 cmol(+)/kg, which was also acidic down the soil profile. Experimental plots of 4 application rates of lime (nil, 1, 2 and 3 t/ha) in 4 replications were established. The site was limed in 1990 and lucerne sown in May 1991. Over the next 6 years the trial was periodically grazed with sheep, and lucerne regrowth and stand density were monitored. In October 1997, the lucerne was removed and 3 crops of varying acid tolerance (wheat, barley and canola) were sown as split plots in both 1998 and 1999. Lucerne density was higher in the limed plots compared with the unlimed treatment, and this difference persisted for 6 years. Dry matter production of lucerne was increased by lime applied at rates up to 2 t/ha. All 3 crops sown after the lucerne phase responded to lime applied 8 and/or 9 years earlier. The responses were attributed to the strong residual effect of the lime in the 0–10 cm soil layer, to smaller improvements in the 10–20 cm zone (possibly due to the movement of lime down the soil profile over the 7 years before the date of measurement) and to carry over effects of nitrogen fixation by the lucerne into the cropping phase. The protein content of the wheat grain was increased concurrently with grain yield due to the previous liming and resultant legume nitrogen effects. The results support the application of lime to improve the productivity of lucerne and subsequent crops, even when the soil is acidic to depths below the cultivation layer.

Monitoring soil moisture status in a Black Vertosol on the Liverpool Plains, NSW, using a combination of neutron scattering and electrical image methods

Electrical image data were used to estimate soil moisture content beneath smectite-dominated black Vertosol in the Liverpool Plains catchment in northern New South Wales. Measurements carried out over a range of soil moisture conditions included: water use by lucerne sown into a full profile, recharge of profiles after lucerne and long fallow after a cereal crop. Measurements were repeated approximately every 2 months between September 2000 and August 2001. Estimates of bulk electrical conductivity (EC), determined from inversion of apparent conductivity electrical images, were compared to soil moisture measurements made using neutron access tubes. A correlation of 0.77 (n = 228, P &lt; 0.0001) between the 2 datasets indicates that electrical imaging can be used to satisfactorily predict bulk moisture content in soils of this type. Interpretation of the bulk EC images indicates drying of the soil profile to 6 m depth beneath lucerne.

Aphids on lucerne sown with insecticides and cover crops

Aphids on lucerne sown with insecticides and cover crops

Effect of sowing rate, grass competition and cutting frequency on persistence and productivity of two lucerne (Medicago sativa) cultivars at Biloela, Queensland

Persistence and production of lucerne (Medicago sativa) cvv. Hunter River and Siro Peruvian were studied on alluvial soil under raingrown conditions in a factorial experiment examining effects of lucerne sowing rates (1.1 and 4.4 kg ha-1), competition from buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris cv. Biloela) and 3,6 and 9-weekly cutting frequencies. Lucerne populations at establishment from 1.1 and 4.4 kg ha-1seed averaged 18 and 60 plants m-2, which reduced to 4 and 7 plants m-2 respectively after three years. Population initially declined rapidly at the higher sowing rate and the presence of buffel grass accentuated this decline. Persistence of Siro Peruvian was inferior to that of Hunter River. Cutting frequency did not affect lucerne persistence. Sowing pure lucerne and cutting every six weeks produced highest lucerne yield, but total yield was greatest from the lucerne/buffel grass mixture cut either 6- or 9-weekly. Increasing lucerne sowing rate increased lucerne yield only slightly and lucerne cultivar had no effect on total lucerne yield.

III. Cover crops and lucerne production

Abstract Three trials were conducted at Lincoln to examine the effect on lucerne growth of sowing it with cover crops. When lucerne was established with barley sown at 56 kg/ha, yield was restored to that of clear-seeded lucerne after one to four harvests. Yield of vndersown lucerne was higher with irrigation, and with the lower cover crop seeding rate. Lucerne sown with spring-sown barley yielded more than lucerne sown with winter-sown wheat. Weeds were less competitive than cover crops. The mean grain yield of barley sown at 56 kg/ha with lucerne equalled the mean yield loss of undersown lucerne.

II. Cover crops and lucerne establishment

Abstract The effect of cereal cover crops on the establishment of lucerne was studied in three field trials at Lincoln. A barley cover crop sown with lucerne in the spring had no effect on lucerne establishment, at barley seeding rates of 56 and 112 kg/ha and lucerne seeding rates of 2.2 to 36.0 kg/ha. In one trial a winter sown wheat cover crop had no effect on the establishment of lucerne sown into it in the spring, but in another trial establishment was reduced, the reduction being less, however, than when lucerne was sown with the wheat in winter. Irrigation improved lucerne establishment and reduced competition from the cover crop. Establishment of lucerne sown in March was less successful after a cereal crop than after fallow, but sowing in September after fallow was preferable.

Autumn lucerne establishment under irrigation with cover crops and herbicides

Abstract The autumn establishment of lucerne with herbicides and cover crops of turnips, green-feed barley, ‘Grasslands Tama’ ryegrass was studied in two trials under irrigation at Winchmore. Under good grazing management, autumn-sown lucerne was shown to withstand severe competition during the autumn-winter period and still attain, at the end of the first or start of the second season, a yield similar to that of lucerne sown without a cover crop. However, if heavy competition had been withstood during winter, freedom from this in the early spring seemed necessary for retention of a lucerne population sufficient to give early resumption of high production. It was concluded that if lucerne is to be autumn sown, a cover crop which ceases active growth by early spring should be used rather than herbicides. The former increased herbage production in the first 18 months and had no harmful effect on later production, whereas herbicides had a negligible effect on herbage production throughout the trial.

Control of vegetative and reproductive growth in sand burr (Cenchrus longispinus)

Seeds and seedlings of the annual weed sand burr (Cenchrus longispinus) were introduced into undisturbed vegetation and fallowed soil in north-western Victoria. Survival and growth of the sand burr plants was significantly reduced on areas with a high density of skeleton weed (Chondrilla juncea), and on soils of heavy texture. The results suggest that sand burr will be confined to the margins of sand dunes and other places where the soil surface is sandy and relatively free of skeleton weed. Natural populations of sand burr produced sufficient dormant seeds in the stubble after cereal crops to enable the plant to persist through several years of ley pasture. Harbinger medic (Medicago littoralis) and lucerne (M. sativa) were sown under the cereal at two sites in 1971 to control sand burr seeding. Harbinger medic reduced sand burr density in the stubble at one site, but did not reduce seed production. Lucerne sown at 3.8 kg ha-1 or above reduced the number of dormant seeds formed in the stubble at the two sites. In the second year of pasture, the suppression of sand burr was independent of lucerne sowing rate.

Production and composition of various lucerne and grass mixtures in a semi-arid environment

Abstract Various lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) /grass associations were compared with lucerne sown alone over a 5-year period at Tara Hills High Country Research Station in the semi-arid environment of North Otago. Companion grasses included cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), prairie grass (Bromus unioloides H.B.K.), perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), phalaris (Phalaris tuberosa L.), and Bromus marginatus Nees. Lucerne sown alone outyielded all lucerne/grass mixtures sown in alternate rows, but was equalled in production by mixed rows of lucerne and cocksfoot. Cocksfoot and tall fescue were the most productive grasses, but their yields were low in comparison to lucerne. No evidence was found to recommend the addition of grasses to lucerne for hay production. Lucerne production was highly variable from year to year and reflected the erratic rainfall.

The performance of beef cattle on different sequences of Townsville lucerne and native pasture at Katherine, N.T

From August 1963 to May 1965, six groups of Shorthorn weaner steers were maintained on different sequences of native pasture and Townsville lucerne sown pasture at Katherine, N.T. The group maintained on Townsville lucerne continuously from weaning reached slaughter weight at 30 months of age, in May 1965. After this date, the remaining groups were maintained continuously on Townsville lucerne until they also reached slaughter weight. There was an approximately inverse linear relation between the period on Townsville lucerne for the first two years after weaning and the total period from weaning to slaughter. Groups that had spent half of the period to May 1965 on Townsville lucerne reached slaughter weight in the 1966 dry season (average age 43 months), and those that had spent a quarter of this period on Townsville lucerne did not reach slaughter weight until the 1967 dry season (average age 53 months).