Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa L.) Screening For Post-Harvest Fungal Resistance, V I. Babij, K M. Wittenberg, S R. Smith Jr

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

A leaf screening procedure developed by Wittenberg et al. (in preparation) for detection of plants resistant or susceptible to fungal growth after cutting was compared with fungal growth on whole plants were chopped and stored under warm humid conditions in the laboratory or wilted and baled in a simulated field trial. Four genotypes previously identified as having low, variable and high susceptibility to fungal growth after harvest were used. Extent of fungal growth, as measured by glucosamine analysis, for plant material chopped and incubated under conditions conducive to molding, supported plant resistance ratings as determined by the screening procedure. Minimal …

Intake, Growth And Feed Preference By Steers Fed Combinations Of Alfalfa And Annual Ryegrass Silage, E Charmley

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Nutritive value and intake of legumes is generally considered superior to grasses when ensiled at similar digestibility. The objectives of this experiment were to determine the optimum combination of annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa) silages to maximize growth rate of steers fed silage, determine chemical components which influenced performance, and to determine if steers selected the optimum mixture when given a choice. Both silages contained similar concentrations of dry matter, acid detergent fibre and organic acids, but alfalfa silage had higher concentrations of nitrogen (N), soluble N and ammonia N. Annual ryegrass contained …

Effects Of A New Cellulase Derived From Acremonium On Silage Fermentation, K Atakul, A Aniwaru, N Narasaki, E No, E Chase

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L) and timothy (Phleum pratense L) were ensiled in laboratory silos to evaluate the effect of cellulase derived from Acremonium (0, 0.005, 0.01, and 0.02% to alfalfa and 0, 0.006, 0.012, and 0.024% to timothy) on silage fermentation. In alfalfa, the addition of cellulase inhibited the production of butyric acid, and as the percentage of cellulase increased, the concentration of ammonia decreased and the content of lactic acid increased. The dry matter recovery significantly decreased with the addition of cellulase. The quality of timothy silage also increased due to the absence of butyric acid. The …

Influence Of Addition Of Previously Fermented Juice To Alfalfa Ensiled At Different Moisture Contents, M Ohshima, L M. Cao, E Kimura, Y Ohshima, H Yokota

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)was ensiled with or without previously fermented juice (PFJ) after wilting for 0, 3, 6 and 24 h. They were ensiled in 900ml glass bottles at 400g/800cm3 and preserved at 25°C for 45 d. The moisture content of the silages were 810, 730, 690 and 580g/kg, respectively. The PFJ was prepared by macerating 200g of freshly harvested alfalfa with 1,000ml of water, filtering through double cheese cloth, adding 20g/l sucrose and incubating anaerobically at 30°C for 2 d. They were added 2.5ml/kg of chopped alfalfa. Lactic acid fermentation of silage was enhanced bAlfalfa (Medicago sativa …

Intake, Digestion And Performance Comparisons For Cattle Fed Macerated Vs. Roller-Conditioned Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa L.) Forage, Suwarno, K M. Wittenberg, W P. Mccaughey

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

The objective of this study was to determine whether maceration of alfalfa forage at the time of harvest will have a positive impact on intake, digestibility and performance in beef cattle. A performance trial conducted with 24 growing beef calves resulted in a 7% and 10% increase (P<0.05) in dry matter intake (kg/d) and daily gain (kg), respectively, when animals were fed alfalfa silage harvested with a macerator vs. a mower conditioner. Feed efficiency was not affected by treatment. Four steers assigned to alfalfa hay harvested with a macerator vs. mower conditioner showed no differences in dry matter intake, however, dry matter digestibility for the macerated hay was higher.

Comparative Characteristics During Wilting For Forage Harvested By Maceration Vs. A Conventional Roller-Conditioner, Suwarno, K M. Wittenberg, W P. Mccaughey

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Two studies were conducted to monitor forage nutrient and microbial changes during wilting of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) forage in response to varying degrees of maceration at harvest. Early bloom alfalfa forage was harvested with either a roller conditioner (Control) or a macerator, with four degrees of maceration (Light, Light plus, Moderate and Severe) imposed. Macerated forage reached an 80% dry matter 10-27 hours sooner than roller-conditioned forage, the most rapid drying rates being associated with the more severely macerated treatments. Total bacteria and lactic acid bacteria populations tended (P < 0.07 and P < 0.08, respectively) to increase with maceration. Macerated forage, when exposed to precipitation, had lower (P < 0.05) crude protein and higher (P < 0.05) fiber concentration than roller-conditioned forage. Macerated forage, exposed to 2 cm precipitation during wilting without precipitation reached 80% DM sooner than conventionally cut alfalfa exposed to no precipitation.

Winterkill Potential Of Alfalfa Under Different Snow Depths, R H. Leep

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

The presence and amount of insulating winter snow cover are key factors in determining the potential of winter injury of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) In the Midwestern U.S. Four alfalfa varieties of varying fall dormancy ratings were planted in the summers of 1993 and 1994. Snow depths above the crop plots were kept constant at depths of 0, 10, and 20 cm during the subsequent winters with framed mesh covers. Winterkill percentages during the two seasons varied dramatically from 0-100% and were significantly higher for the 0 cm treatment than for 10 or 20 cm treatments. Nitro, a nondormant …

Collection And Evaluation Of The Section Platycarpe From The Peoples Republic Of China, T A. Cambell, G Bao, Z L. Xia

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

The Peoples Republic of China is the center of origin of several species of the section Platycarpae, which could contain genes for drought and cold tolerance that would be of significant benefit to cultivated alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) Of particular interest are Medicago archiducis-nicolai Sirjaev, M. edgeworthii Sirjaev, and M. ruthenica (L.) Ledebour. Of 105 M. ruthenica accessions collected from 15 diverse environments in Inner Mongolia, 50 were evaluated in the field at Beltsville MD (USA) in 1993 and 1994 on an acid soil (pH 6.4) deficient in boron and potassium. Significant variation was noted for stand retention, reaction to …

Symbiotic Behaviour Of Alfalfa Varieties Grown In Different Soils, C Scotti, S Gnocchi, M Carelli, P Rotili

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Six alfalfa (Medicago sativa) varieties were grown in two contrasting soils to study their symbiotic ability as estimated by nodule biomass and dry matter yield in presence of the natural population of rhizobia of soil. Varieties can be discriminated on the basis of total (year) nodule biomass; their ranking for nodule biomass was consistent in the different soil types although soils significantly influenced nodulation and dry matter yield.

Forage Production In Alternative Agriculture: Dairy Farms In Eastern Canada, G Allard, M Mauries, D Pellerin

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Alternative agriculture has been adopted by dairy farmers in response to concerns over conventional agriculture. The purpose of this study is to compare forage production characteristics on 12 alternative or conventional dairy farms. Yields and quality components were determined for the first and the second cuts of forage harvested in 1994 and 1995. Similar yields as well as similar crude protein and ADF concentrations were obtained for forages produced on alternative and conventional farms. Although potassium concentrations were lower under alternative farming, forage production is not a limiting factor in alternative dairy farming.

Comparison Of The In Vitro Fermentation Characteristic Of Fractionated Alfalfa And Sainfoin, L R. Mcmahon, M Goto, T A. Mcallister, G A. Jones, K J. Cheng

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Alfalfa and sainfoin leaves were lyophilized and ground (A, S, respectively) or were fractionated into soluble (A_SOL, S_SOL) and insoluble (A_INS, S_INS)components and lyophilized and incubated in vitro with diluted ruminal fluid for 24h. Whole leaf and soluble fractions were also incubated with polyethylene glycol 8000 (PEG). Gas production (GP), ammonia concentration [NH3] and volatile fatty acid (VFA) production were lower (P< 0.05) from S and SSOL than from A and ASOL Insoluble fractions differed only in [NH3] (SINS < AINS, P < 0.05). Inclusion of PEG increased (P < 0.05) GP, [NH3] and VFA production from whole leaf and soluble fractions of sainfoin, but not alfalfa. Inactivating the condensed tannins in sainfoin with PEG overcame differences in degradability between these two forages.

Identification Of Alfalfa Chromosomes Using Giemas Banding And Image Analysis Techniques, G R. Bauchan, M A. Hossain

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Chromosomes of two diploid (2n=2x=16) subspecies of Medicago sativa, ssp. caerulea and ssp. falcata, their hybrid and tetraploid (2n=4x=32) cultivated alfalfa (M. sativa, ssp. sativa) were studied. Feulgen’s staining, C- and N-banding techniques and an image analysis system were used. The chromosomes of ssp. falcata have only centromeric bands, however, a multitude of bands were observed in both the C- and N-banding pattern of ssp. caerulea and ssp. sativa enabling the precise identification of each of the eight sets of chromosomes and development of a karyotype. The differences in banding patterns between the diploid subspecies makes it possible …

Aluminum Tolerance Qtl In Diploid Alfalfa, M K. Sledge, J H. Bouton, J Tamulonis, W A. Parrot, G Kochert

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Aluminum (Al) toxicity associated with acid soils greatly inhibits alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) productivity throughout much of the world’s major grassland areas. In this paper, we report the identification of quantitative trait loci (QTL) controlling aluminum tolerance in diploid alfalfa (Medicago sativa L). An in vitro callus growth bioassay was used to select aluminum tolerant and aluminum sensitive parents, and to screen an F2 population for aluminum tolerance. Fifty-eight cDNA probes were mapped to nine linkage groups, and the F2 genotypic classes were contrasted with means from the callus growth bioassay using ANOVA. We also used Mapmaker-QTL to …

Comparison Of Composition And Degradation Characteristics Of Early Bloom Alfalfa With Fenugreek (Trigonella Foenum-Graecum) Forages Harvested At Different Stages Of Maturity, Z Mir, P S. Mir, S N. Acharya, L A. Goonewardene

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

The objective of this study was to compare the composition and degradation characteristics of early bloom alfalfa and fenugreek harvested after 9, 15 and 17 wk of growth. Crude protein (CP) content of fenugreek cut at 9, 15 and 17 wk was lower (P<0.05) than that of alfalfa. Neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and lignin content of fenugreek harvested after 15 and 17 wk were higher (P<0.05) than that of alfalfa. Ash content was lower (P<0.05) in fenugreek than for alfalfa. In vitro dry matter disappearance (IVDMD) of fenugreek cut at 15 and 17 wk was similar to that of alfalfa. Total in vitro gas production of fenugreek cut at the three stages of growth was not significantly different from those observed for alfalfa. Results indicate that chemical composition and IVDMD of fenugreek at all stages of …

Quality Evaluation Of Feed Resources At The Newly Reclaimed Area In Egypt, M K. Hathout, F Z. Swidan, M F. El-Sayes, H A. Eid

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

The objective of this study was to examine the productivity of Egyptian clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.) interseeded with ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) and alfalfa (Medicaga sativa L.). These species were planted in newly reclaimed land in Ismailia, Egypt under two fertilization systems; organic (OF) or chemical (CF) during winter season of (1994-1995) using a split plot design. Feeding quality of forages was evaluated by conducting digestibility trials with rams and feeding trials with growing lambs where forage was offered ad. libitum with 1% of LBW concentrate. Productivity data indicated that organic fertilization yielded significantly more DM. Chemical …

Ecosystem Services And Life Cycle Assessment Of Perennial And Annual Cropping Systems, M. Berti, A. Cecchin

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Corn cultivation has negative impacts to the environment, such as nitrate leaching, soil erosion, and nitrous oxide emissions. Perennial crops such as alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) reduce annual disturbance of soil, which affects many biogeochemical cycles that are key to provide resilience and stability to cropping systems. Four three-year crop sequences were evaluated. 1) Corn-soybean-corn (CSC); 2) alfalfa-alfalfa-alfalfa (AAA); 3) Corn-spring planted alfalfa-alfalfa (CAA); and 4) Corn-intercropped/alfalfa-alfalfa-alfalfa (CAIAA). Modeling of C and N cycles were conducted with the Denitrification-Decomposition (DNDC) model and global warming potential (GWP) was estimated using life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology. The soil organic carbon (SOC) balance …

Drought Tolerance Dissection And Molecular Breeding In Alfalfa, Luo Dong, Qiang Zhou, Xueming Dong, Wenxian Liu, Zhipeng Liu

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Drought stress is one of the leading impediments that limit the productivity of global alfalfa (Medicago sativa). The underlying molecular and genetic mechanisms for drought tolerance in alfalfa remain largely unclear. In order to fully reveal the transcriptional changes of alfalfa in response to abiotic stress, the alfalfa transcriptome database under mannitol (simulated drought stress), NaCl (simulated salt stress), or exogenous ABA application was built via various RNA-seq technologies. Through further screening of the transcriptome database, a number of genes significantly induced by drought stress, such as the Nuclear Transport Factor 2-like (MsNTF2L), Drought-Induced Unknown Protein 1 (MsDIUP1), …

Winter Performance Of North American Bos Grunniens Offered Hay Harvested From Different Forage Species, Jeff Lehmkuhler, G. Dike, M. Mccarty

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Bos grunniens or the domesticated yak was brought to North America in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. In Asia, yaks have been observed to lose 25% or more of their body weight over the winter in the high mountain altitudes. Little research has been conducted with the domesticated yak and their nutritional needs. Maintaining positive weight change during the winter is expected to improve the profitability and viability of yak production systems in North America. An on-farm study was conducted near Wellington, KY, USA to investigate the winter performance of yaks and hay type. Four outdoor grass lots approximate …

Developing A Simple Bioassay For Detection Of Alfalfa Autotoxicity In Field Soils, P. Baisley, K. Cassida, S. Gruss, E. Hill

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Alfalfa autotoxicity causes yield reductions in alfalfa production by inhibiting plant establishment and decreasing plant productivity. Accurate predictions regarding autotoxic potential of the soil in a given field at a given time are an essential tool for alfalfa growers to make appropriate planting decisions. To address this issue, we are developing a soil bioassay that can be conducted as a mail-in soil test for alfalfa growers through plant diagnostic service laboratories. We hypothesize that we will detect differences in seed germination, emergence, root length, and root morphology between control and autotoxic soils. A preliminary trial testing alfalfa field soils and …

Grazing Management For Alfalfa Persistence And Productivity In Warm-Climate Regions, D. Basigalup

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Alfalfa is the most important cultivated forage crop in Argentina, where about 3 million hectares are grown. Even though the use of direct grazing is coming down during the last 15 years, it is still important for both beef and dairy production. Alfalfa grazing can play an important role in reducing operative costs and decreasing quality loss due to forage conservation (hay or silage). In this paper, the main concepts necessary to implement adequate and practical rotational grazing systems are briefly discussed. Particular attention is given to issues such as grazing frequency, grazing period, pasture use efficiency, and alfalfa quality …

Assessing The Nutrient Status Of Alfalfa Stands In Kentucky, William R. Fleming, Christopher D. Teutsch, Edwin L. Ritchey, John H. Grove

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is a perennial forage legume and is sometimes referred to as the “Queen of Forages” due to its high nutritional value. Alfalfa is commonly produced as hay for use in the dairy and equine industries. Alfalfa yield increased exponentially from the 1950s to the1980s due to new breeding and management innovations. However, during the 1980s yields plateaued at around 7.5 Mg/ha and remain there today. The overarching goal of this study was to determine the role of soil fertility in the observed yield plateau. Fifty alfalfa stands in Kentucky were sampled to gather information about …

Prospects For Improving Alfalfa Yield Using Genomic- And Phenomic-Based Breeding, M. W. Francis, D. Pap, A. Krill-Brown, E. C. Brummer

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is a perennial outcrossing legume that is cultivated as an important forage crop in many parts of the world. Yield is the most important trait for profitable alfalfa production, yet over the last 30 years yield improvement in California has stagnated. Current breeding methods focus on recurrent phenotypic selection; however, alternatives incorporating genomic- and phenomic-based information may enhance genetic gain and help to address the lack of yield improvement. Here we attempt to increase the yield potential of alfalfa using genomic selection (GS) in combination with high throughput phenotyping (HTP). A total of 193 families …

Effects Of Fall Dormancy, Cutting Frequency, And K Application Rate On Dry Matter Yield And Nutritive Value Of Alfalfa, Ji Yung Kim, J. S. Choi, M. H. Jo, K. I. Sung

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

[Introduction] This study was conducted to determine the effect of the cutting frequency and K application rate on the dry matter yield (DMY) and nutritive value of new alfalfa varieties in Korea.

[Material and Methods] The sowing date and rate were September 21, 2019, and 20 kg/ha, respectively. The treatment was by the split-split plot design, and the main plot was the Fall dormancy (FD) of 3 (Rugged Rancher), 4 (SW4113), and 9 (SW9720), the sub-plot was excess 40 day (LCF), from 31 to 40 days (MCF), and under 30 day (HCF) times of cutting frequency …

Irrigation Effects On Forage Dry Matter Yield And Nutritive Value Of Alfalfa, Rudra Baral, Doohong Min

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is among the top four field crops in United States (U.S.) in terms of acreage harvested and economic value. Several studies have documented that alfalfa requires high amount of water compared to other major field crops. However, more than 65% alfalfa in the U.S. is grown under rainfed condition where severe to moderate drought condition has been pronounced during alfalfa growing season. The magnitude of yield loss due to water-limited conditions is still unknown. In this context, the objective of our study is to evaluate the forage dry matter yield and forage nutritive value of …

Farmer Experiences With Alfalfa In The Southern U.S.A., M. K. Mullenix, L. S. Silva, C. G. Prevatt, J. J. Tucker

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is a forage crop of primary importance in the United States (USA); however, adoption and use in the southern USA region has been limited. The combination of adapted alfalfa cultivars and management strategies which demonstrate extended forage growing season length, improved forage nutritive value, and reduced N fertilizer inputs have renewed interest in forage-livestock farmers to consider planting alfalfa. A series of Extension-based educational strategies have been used in the southern USA to 1) create awareness on the use of alfalfa, 2) educate farmers regarding establishment and management practices, and 3) showcase opportunities and challenges …