ISSN:
1573-5060
Keywords:
Medicago sativa
;
alfalfa breeding
;
Medicago varia
;
lucerne
;
forage quality
;
phenology
;
crude protein
;
in vitro digestibility
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Agriculture, Forestry, Horticulture, Fishery, Domestic Science, Nutrition
Notes:
Summary Forage quality of various alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) cultivars has been determined under different environmental conditions, and numerous trials with alfalfa have documented an inverse relationship between forage quality and maturity. Little information is available, however, regarding the comparative forage quality of the germplasm sources from which most USA cultivars were developed. We compared forage quality of these germplasm sources at four phenological stages under disease- and insect-free conditions in a greenhouse. Germplasm sources (cultivars) tested were: Indian (Sirsa #9), African (African), Peruvian (Hairy Peruvian), Flemish (DuPuits), Turkistan (Lahontan), Chilean (Kansas Common), M. varia (Grimm), and Ladak (Ladak). Four harvests were taken and forage was separated into four phenological stages: vegetative, early bud (1–3 buds-per-stem), late bud (〉3 buds-per-stem), and bloom. The germplasm source X phenological stage interaction was significant for crude protein (CP) and in vitro digestible dry matter (IVDDM) concentrations. M. varia showed the least decline in IVDDM and CP with increasing maturity. M. varia had higher IVDDM than did African and Indian at late bud and bloom stages. Indian and Flemish had higher CP than did Turkistan and Peruvian at late bud and bloom stages. Alfalfa germplasm sources differ in forage quality when comparisions are made within similar stages of phenological development.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00022892
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