New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research abstracts
Short communication
Lucerne persistence, yield and quality as influenced by stand aging
Irfan Coruh
Atatürk University Faculty of Agriculture Department of Plant
Protection
Erzurum, Turkey
icoruh@atauni.edu.tr
Mustafa Tan
Atatürk University Faculty of Agriculture Department of
Agronomy
Erzurum, Turkey
Abstract The effects of a range of stand
ages on lucerne were
studied over three locations in Erzurum, Turkey. Dry matter yield, weed
ratio, plant density and content of crude protein (CP), acid detergent
fibre (ADF) and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) were determined in stands
of different ages. Stand age reduced the dry matter yield and increased
weed ratio and density. This yield reduction was from 5533 kg ha–1
(in the second year) to 3039 kg ha–1 (in the seventh year).
Lucerne plant density was the highest (225.6 plants m–2) in
the establishment year. It reduced in the subsequent years, while weed
densities increased with stand age. Protein, ADF and NDF content in
forage were strongly affected by increased stand age. In general, the
crude protein content decreased, while ADF and NDF contents increased,
with aging. The results of this study showed that lucerne persisted
well for 6 years and produced high yields with low weed content under
irrigated conditions in Erzurum.
Keywords density; lucerne; nutritive
value; stand age; weeds;
yield
A07012; Online publication date 13 March 2008; Received 12 February
2007; 28 December 2007
New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research, 2008, Vol. 51:
39–43
0028–8233/08/5101–0039 © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2008
PDF file of entire paper: Print-quality
(726K) | screen-quality (370K)
This year's abstracts |
Journal home page |
All abstracts |
Publishing home page
