Selection of very nondormant alfalfa for increased winter and spring production

• Main Author: Al-Doss, Abdullah, 1963-
• Other Authors: Smith, S. E.
• Language: en_US
• Published: The University of Arizona. 1989
• Subjects: Alfalfa > Breeding.; Alfalfa > Hardiness.
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10150/277055

Regrowth and yield of 23 Middle Eastern (ME) cultivars and the elite cultivar Lew were evaluated for twelve regrowth harvests in pure stands and 50:50 mixtures with Lew in 1988 at Tucson, Arizona. Stem elongation rate and crown shoot development were measured on selected ME cultivars and Lew in the spring of 1988. No significant differences in yield were observed between mixtures and monocultures. Few significant differences were observed over all yields among ME cultivars and Lew. Cultivars from Saudi Arabia and Egypt produced more forage than Lew in spring harvests. These cultivars developed crown shoots precociously and had high stem elongation rates during the first week of regrowth. Most ME cultivars had higher leaf area and leaf:stem ratio than did Lew. These findings suggest that ME cultivars may be useful in improving forage yield during the winter and spring and forage quality in elite nondormant cultivars.