Evaluation of Alfalfa–Tall Fescue Mixtures across Multiple Environments. Issue 4 (1st July 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tracy, Benjamin F.; Albrecht, Ken; Flores, Joao; Hall, Marvin; Islam, Anowarul; Jones, Gordon; Lamp, William; MacAdam, Jennifer W.; Skinner, Howard; Teutsch, Chris
• Is Part Of: Crop science. Volume 56:Issue 4(2016)
• Page Start: 2026
• Page End: 2034
• Publication Date: 2016-07-01
• Subjects: Crop science -- Periodicals; Cultures -- Périodiques; Cultures de plein champ -- Périodiques; Crop science; Nutzpflanzen; Zeitschrift; Pflanzenbau; Periodicals; 633
• DOI: 10.2135/cropsci2015.09.0553
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0011-183X

Abstract

Abstract : Binary grass–legume mixtures can benefit forage production systems in different ways helping growers cope both with increasing input costs (e.g., N fertilizer, herbicides) and potentially more variable weather. The main objective of this study was to evaluate alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.) and tall fescue [ Schedonorus phoenix (Scop.) Holub] mixtures across a wide range of environments to assess herbage accumulation, weed suppression and fertilizer nitrogen replacement values (FNRV). A common field experiment was established in 2009 and 2010 at six study sites in the United States: Maryland, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Experimental treatments included an alfalfa monoculture, three alfalfa–fescue mixtures with seed ratios of 75:25, 50:50, and 25:75 of alfalfa/tall fescue, and tall fescue monocultures that received nitrogen applications of 0, 50, 100, 150, 200, and 300 kg N ha –1, respectively. Data were collected over a 2‐yr period. The responses of tall fescue monocultures to N fertilization differed among sites, and this contrasted with mixture yields, which did not exhibit site × treatment interactions ( P > 0.05). Herbage accumulation and weed suppression were consistently higher in mixtures compared with alfalfa monocultures and tall fescue monocultures receiving less than 100 kg N ha –1 . The FNRVs for alfalfa were within the range reported for other studies and averaged 143 kg N ha –1 . The consistent herbage accumulations across these multiple environments suggest binary mixtures of alfalfa–tall fescue may be a good option for many forage–livestock producers although yields could be improved with location specific cultivar selection.