ALFALFA VARIETY TRIALS
Seed was provided to the Klamath Experiment Station in 1980 for
the establishment of an alfalfa variety trial. A listing of entries
and seed sources is presented in Table 1. A 1.8-acre field of alfalfa
and quackgrass was treated with Roundup and plowed. Eptam and Baylan
at 2 and 1.13 pounds active ingredient per acre, respectively, were
applied on May 28, 1981. The varieties were seeded with a cone seeder
at 1/2-inch depth on June 1, 1981. The plots were 5 by 40 feet with
4 replications planted in a randomized complete block design.
The seedling stand was irrigated three times weekly as necessary
to maintain adequate moisture for germination and early growth. At a
height of 3 inches, the alfalfa was sprinkler irrigated with 2 inches
of water in 24 hours once each week. Pigweed, lambsquarter, dandelion,
mallow, and nightshade were observed in the field. Weed control was
thought to be limited by an Eptam preparation which had been allowed to
freeze. The weed infestation was not severe enough so as to affect the
alfalfa stand. Yield data will be collected using a field chopper, subsample, and moisture correction system. Irrigation at harvest will be
managed in a typical grower system where windrows are cured in the field.
Long established alfalfa variety trials were cut three times in 1980.
The varieties in Tables 2 and 4 were cut on July 7, August 22, and September 30. The varieties in Table 3 were cut on July 7, August 20, and October 2. During the cutting periods, windrows were cured in the field and
baled at 20 percent moisture. Sprinkler irrigation at 2 inches of water
in 24 hours each week nearly replaced water lost by evapotranspiration in
the fields,
The alfalfa variety yields were a departure from normal in 1980 in
two ways. The average yields for each experiment were 1 ton per acre
lower than the longterm average. Vernal alfalfa was the number one
producer in each of the three alfalfa trials in 1980. On average, Vernal
ranks near number 11 in yield in a 21-variety trial.
The variety Moapa in Table 4 was the lowest yield in each cutting.
The Moapa plots contained 3 to 4 plants each and most of the yield was
dandelion. The loss of stand would be expected during Klamath Falls
winters for alfalfa varieties with little winter dormancy, i.e., Moapa.
One of six plots of Lahontan suffered loss of stand. The comparatively
low yields in cutting 1 and 2 of Tables 2 and 4 indicate Lahontan may
not be suitable for Klamath Basin growers.
Table 1. Alfalfa varieties and seed source of a study established in
spring of 1981
Variety
Source
Pacer
Valor
Action
Haymaker
Anchor
Apollo
Vangard
Titan
Duke
NAPB 89
Thor
Gladiator
919
Pytor
Union Seed Co.
N. Am. Plant Breeders
Northrup King
Variety
WL 220
WL 309
WL 312
WL 314
WL 318
Cascade
Flemish MS-243
Super 721
Cenex C11-25
Vernal
Cimarron
De Kalb 120
De Kalb 130
2
Source
W-L Research, Inc.
CENEX
Northrup King
Great Plains Res. Co.
Dekalb Ag. Res. Inc.
Table 2. Alfalfa Dry Matter Yield, 1980, Experiment 2
Variety
1st
2nd
Cutting
3rd
Total
Rank'
T/A
Thor
Resistador 2
Gladiator
Nargaisett
Ranger
Vernal
Grimm
2.50
2.05
2.42
2.58
2.70
2.87
1.67
1.79
1.70
1.62
1.87
1.84
2.11
1.62
0.64
0.66
0.72
0.71
0.66
0.66
0.83
4.93
4.41
4.76
5.16
5.20
5.64
4.12
11
20
16
6
4
1
21
Ladak
Action
Valor
Pacer
Haydak
Rambler
Haymaker
2.58
2.24
2,72
2.54
2.53
2.51
2.48
1.92
1.79
1.96
1.86
1.61
1.68
1.70
0.72
0.77
0.67
0.59
0.56
0.47
0.68
5.22
4.80
5.35
4.99
4.70
4.66
4.86
3
15
2
10
18
19
13
Titan
Lahontan
Anchor
Rhisoma
WL 304
WL 318
Apolo
2.41
2.38
2.32
2.46
2.48
2.69
2.56
1.84
1.64
1.91
1.99
1,97
1.72
1.73
0.67
0.72
0.60
0.68
0.73
0.71
0.71
4.92
4.74
4.83
5.13
5.18
5.12
5.00
12
17
14
7
5
8
9
'Where total tons per acre figures are identical, ranking is based on
actual pounds per acre harvested.
3
Alfalfa Dry Matter Yield, 1980, Experiment 1
Table 3.
Variety
Nargansett
Saranac
Vernal
520
530
Tempo
K0-3
K8-607
Iroquois
Arnim
Thor
WL-215
WL-216
WL-307
Apalachee
Weevlchek
Anchor
TBX-D59
Klondike
Titan
Apex
Table 4.
Variety
Agate
Saranac
Moapa
Vernal
Team
Dupuits
Lahontan
Belts 72
Washoe
Apalachee
Nargansett
1st
2nd
2.20
2.02
2.39
2.28
2.02
1.96
2.26
2.11
2.20
2.14
1.98
2.07
2.18
2.27
1.90
2.22
2.13
1.94
2.11
2.08
2.20
2.16
1.97
2.33
2.22
2.23
2.14
1.98
2.04
2.10
2.18
2.14
2.24
2.30
2.50
2.06
2.17
2.16
2.15
2.05
2.28
2.12
Cutting
3rd
T/A
0.89
1.02
1.08
0.86
0.97
0.94
0.56
0.91
0.89
0.95
0.98
0.84
1.03
1.03
0.88
0.88
0.97
1.12
0.92
0.91
0.96
Total
Rank'
5.25
5.01
5.80
5.36
5.22
5.04
4.80
5.06
5.19
5.27
5.10
5.15
5.51
5.80
4.84
5.27
5.26
5.21
5.08
5.27
5.28
10
19
2
4
11
18
21
17
13
6
15
14
3
1
20
7
9
12
16
8
5
Total
Rank'
4.80
5.29
3.17
5.40
5.29
4.61
4.12
4.99
4.58
4.64
4.71
5
2
11
1
3
8
10
4
9
7
6
Alfalfa Dry Matter Yield, 1980, Experiment 3
1st
2nd
2.51
2.52
1.25
2.69
2.59
1.97
1.79
2.39
2.16
2.08
2.57
1.62
2.06
1.62
2.06
2.00
1.91
1.56
1.84
1.68
1.82
1.55
Cutting
3rd
T/A
0.67
0.71
0.30
0.65
0.70
0.73
0.77
0.76
0.74
0.74
0.59
'Where total tons per acre figures are identical, ranking is based on
actual pounds per acre harvested.
4