Klamath Experiment Station
Alfalfa Variety Trial, 1996-97
R.L. Dovel and J. Rainey'
A
bstract
A trial including 28 released and experimental alfalfa varieties was established in August, 1996. Varieties were arranged in
a randomized complete block design with four
replications. Plots were 5x 20 feet with 5-foot
borders and alleyways. The crop was sprinklerirrigated with a solid-set system. Plants were
allowed to grow through the first growing season
without cutting. Alfalfa was harvested in 1997
when plants reached early bud stage. The crop
was harvested using a flail harvester with a 3-foot
wide head. Three cuttings were also taken in
1997. There was no significant difference in yield
among varieties in the first and second cuttings.
There were significant differences in the third
cutting, but not in total forage yield. The collection of only one year of data is inadequate to
provide an estimate of the relative yield potential
of the varieties in this trial. An additional 2 years
of data are needed to adequately assess yield
potential and to evaluate stand survival in this
environment.
Introduction
Alfalfa is a major forage commodity in
the Klamath Basin. It is grown on over 40,000
acres in Klamath County alone. Major markets
for Klamath Basin alfalfa are dairies, cattle
ranches, and horse farms in Oregon and California. Premium quality hay suitable for the dairy hay
market requires timely cutting, good weed
control, and an adequate stand. Little difference in
forage quality has been seen between alfalfa
varieties in the past. Breeding programs are
striving to improve alfalfa quality. Varieties reportedly superior in quality are beginning to be
marketed; however, management still appears to
have more effect on forage quality than varietal
differences.
Few pests attack alfalfa in the Klamath
Basin. The main diseases present are bacterial
wilt and phytophthora root rot. Verticillium wilt
has not been found in the basin, but it occurs in
many surrounding areas. The main insect pest is
the alfalfa weevil. Some breeding programs are
beginning to select for resistance to this pest. Pest
resistances are important variety selection criteria.
Winter hardiness is important in selecting
a variety for the Klamath Basin. Winter hardiness
has been closely linked with fall dormancy ratings;
however, less dormant varieties have experienced
reasonable stand longevity in recent years,
perhaps due to relatively mild winters. Local
variety trials are being used to develop empirical
winter hardiness and stand persistence measurements to supplement fall dormancy ratings as a
'/Associate Professor and Biological Sciences Research Technician III, respectively, Klamath
Experiment Station, Klamath Falls, OR.
Acknowledgments: We acknowledge gratefully the suppport of these studies from the following companies: ABI Alfalfa; Allied Seed; Barenbrug, USA; Dairyland Seed; DeKalb Seed; Grasslands West; Great
Lakes Hybrids; Great Plains Research; Loshe Mill; Northrup King Co.; Pioneer Hi-Bred International;
SeedTec International; Union Seed Co.; and W-L Research.
126 Klamath Experiment Station 1997
Klamath Experiment Station
Alfalfa Variety Trial, 1996-97
measure of variety hardiness.
Forage yield is a function of a complex set of interactions between the alfalfa
plant and its environment. Variety trials
conducted at Klamath Experiment Station
(KES) provide alfalfa producers locally
developed data on the yield potential and
persistence of new alfalfa varieties. An alfalfa
variety trial established at KES in 1996 is the
subject of this report.
Procedures
A trial including 28 released and
experimental alfalfa varieties was established
in August, 1996. Varieties were arranged in a
randomized complete block design with four
replications. Soil samples from the field were
analyzed and the appropriate fertilizer applied
before planting. Seed was drilled to a depth
of 1/4 inch at a rate of 20 lb/acre using a
modified Kincaid drill. Plots were 5x 30 feet
with 5-foot borders and alleyways. The crop
was sprinkler-irrigated with a solid-set
system.
Plants were allowed to grow through
the first growing season without cutting.
Alfalfa was harvested in subsequent years
when plants reached early bud stage. The
crop was harvested using a flail harvester with
a 3-foot wide head. All yields are reported on
a dry weight basis. Three cuttings were also
taken in 1997.
Results and Discussion
cutting, but not in total forage yield. Failure to distinguish between varieties was not a result of high
variability. Coefficients of variation were 10,11, 8,
and 6 percent for first, second, and third cuttings, and
total yield, respectively. In the first cutting, forage
production ranged from 2.90 ton/acre for Excalibur II
to 2.33 ton/acre for 5246. This is a difference from
lowest to highest of just over one-half ton/acre. A
similar range in yields was seen in the second and
third harvests as well, 0.42 and 0.54 ton/acre,
respectively. Differences in forage quality were not
detected in the first harvest year despite low variation
as indicated by coefficients of variation (CVs) (Table
2).
The selection of an appropriate alfalfa variety
should be based on other factors in addition to yield
and quality. Disease and pest resistance as well as
winter hardiness are two very important factors.
Varieties selected for the Klamath Basin should be
resistant to bacterial wilt, phytophthora root rot,
verticillium wilt, and in some areas, stem nematode.
Resistance to root knot nematode may also be a
factor when in rotation with potatoes. In the past, fall
dormancy ratings of 2 to 3 have been recommended
for the Klamath Basin; however, recent varieties in
groups 4 and even 5 have persisted over a 4-year
period. Fall dormancy and pest resistance ratings of
varieties included in this trial are provided in Table 3.
The collection of only one year of data is
inadequate to provide an estimate of the relative yield
potential of the varieties in this trial. An additional 2
years of data are needed to adequately assess yield
potential and to evaluate stand survival in this
environment.
There was no significant difference in
yield among varieties in the first and second
cuttings in 1997 (Table 1). There were
significant (P = 0.05) differences in the third
Klamath Experiment Station 1997 127
Klamath Experiment Station
Table 1. Alfalfa forage yield of 28 varieties planted at the KES, Klamath Falls, OR, 1996.
Entry
Variety
Company
Cut 1
Cut 2
Cut 3
Total
Rank
ton / A
Rushmore
Aspen
Innovator +Z
Affinity + Z
ABI 9352
Novartis Seeds
Eureka Seeds
America's Alfalfa
America's Alfalfa
America's Alfalfa
2.64
2.74
2.70
2.52
2.44
1.47
1.51
1.57
1.60
1.58
1.99
1.81
2.05
1.97
1.96
6.10
6.06
6.32
6.09
5.98
20
23
13
21
24
6
7
8
9
10
LM-331
H 154
LM 459
Accord
DK127
Loshe Mill
Loshe Mill
Loshe Mill
Union Seed/Chemgro
Dekalb Genetics Corp.
2.72
2.54
2.41
2.77
2.75
1.44
1.65
1.79
1.70
1.58
1.96
1.71
1.94
1.86
1.92
6.12
5.90
6.14
6.33
6.25
19
27
18
10
15
11
12
13
14
15
5396
5246
Extend
Charger
Webfoot MPR
Pioneer Hi-Breed Int
Pioneer Hi-Breed Int
Grasslands West
Grasslands West
Great Lakes Hybrids
2.72
2.33
2.85
2.74
2.88
1.68
1.42
1.44
1.60
1.47
1.98
1.95
2.03
1.88
2.03
6.38
5.70
6.32
6.22
6.38
5
28
14
16
7
16
17
18
19
20
Excalibur
Magnum III
Oneida VR
Vernal
Vernema
Allied Seed
Dairyland
Public
Public
Public
2.90
2.77
2.72
2.8
2.58
1.69
1.61
1.72
1.44
1.55
1.98
1.95
2.01
1.94
1.83
6.57
6.33
6.45
6.18
5.96
1
11
2
17
25
21
22
23
24
25
W45
HayGrazer
WL 252 HQ
Blazer
Blazer XL
Public
Great Plains Research
WL Research Inc.
Croplan Genetics
Croplan Genetics
2.48
2.69
2.79
2.67
2.55
1.44
1.54
1.59
1.56
1.53
1.99
2.10
2.06
2.18
1.99
5.91
6.33
6.44
6.41
6.07
26
12
3
4
22
26
27
28
Baralfa 54
Baralfa 32 IQ
Ranger
Barenbrug, USA
Barenbrug, USA
Public
2.61
2.72
2.62
1.84
1.63
1.51
1.90
2.02
2.25
6.35
6.37
6.38
9
8
6
2.67
10
NS
1.58
11
NS
1.97
8
0.22
6.22
6
NS
1
2
3
4
5
-
Mean
CV (%)
LSD (P = 0.05)
128 Klamath Experiment Station 1997
Klamath Experiment Station
Table 2. 1997 alfalfa forage quality as measured by crude protein (CP), acid detergent fiber (ADF),
neutral detergent fiber (NDF), total digestible nutrients (TDN), and relative feed value (RFV), of 28
varieties planted at KES, Klamath Falls, OR, 1996.
RFV
Variety
Company
CP
ADF
NDF
TDN
1
2
3
4
5
Rushmore
Aspen
Innovator +Z
Affinity + Z
ABI 9352
Novartis Seeds
Eureka Seeds
America's Alfalfa
America's Alfalfa
America's Alfalfa
20.8
23.0
22.6
22.8
23.3
36.7
34.0
33.9
32.9
32.8
45.5
43.0
43.4
44.0
43.0
54.2
57.3
57.4
59.0
58.7
123.5
135.4
135.1
134.3
137.4
6
7
8
9
10
LM-331
H 154
LM 459
Accord
DK127
Loshe Mill
Loshe Mill
Loshe Mill
Union Seed/Chemgro
Dekalb Genetics Corp.
21.9
21.4
21.0
22.8
24.1
35.4
35.3
36.0
33.6
32.3
45.0
45.8
45.8
42.4
41.2
55.7
55.8
55.0
57.8
59.2
127.2
125.2
124.4
138.9
144.6
Pioneer Hi-Breed Int
Pioneer Hi-Breed Int
Grasslands West
Grasslands West
Great Lakes Hybrids
22.5
22.5
21.9
21.3
21.7
33.5
33.6
35.1
35.8
34.0
43.2
43.8
44.8
44.9
44.4
57.8
57.7
56.1
55.2
57.3
135.6
133.4
128.2
126.6
131.3
11 5396
12 5246
13 Extend
14 Charger
15 Webfoot MPR
16
17
18
19
20
Excalibur II
Magnum III
Oneida VR
Vernal
Vernema
Allied Seed
Dairyland
Public
Public
Public
22.5
22.6
22.5
22.7
21.3
34.2
33.6
33.3
33.6
35.4
43.6
42.7
42.4
42.6
44.4
57.0
57.8
58.0
57.7
55.7
133.3
137.2
138.3
137.2
128.9
21
22
23
24
25
W45
HayGrazer
WL 252 HQ
Blazer
Blazer XL
Public
Great Plains Research
WL Research Inc.
Croplan Genetics
Croplan Genetics
21.2
22.9
23.4
22.0
23.6
35.7
33.7
32.6
34.4
32.7
45.4
43.0
42.4
44.6
42.3
55.3
57.6
58.9
56.8
58.8
125.7
136.5
139.8
130.0
139.6
Barenbrug, USA
Barenbrug, USA
Public
23.1
21.9
21.6
33.1
34.7
35.1
42.1
45.0
44.1
58.2
56.4
56.0
140.3
128.9
130.7
22.3
8
NS
34.2
7
NS
43.7
6
NS
57.1
5
NS
133.0
9
NS
26 Baralfa 54
27 Baralfa 32 IQ
28 Ranger
Mean
CV (%)
LSD (P = 0.05)
Klamath Experiment Station 1997 129
Klamath Experiment Station
Table 3. Alfalfa variety fall dormancy rating (1-D); and resistance to bacterial wilt (BW), verticillium wilt
(VW), fusarium wilt (FW), anthracnose (AN), phytophthera root rot (PRR), spotted alfalfa aphid (SAA),
peas aphid (PA), blue alfalfa aphid (BAA), stem nematode (SN), aphanomyces root rot race 1 (APH),
Southern root knot nematode (SKRN), and Northern root knot nematode (NKRN). Data taken from
Certified Seed Council's "Fall Dormancy and Pest Resistance Ratings for Alfalfa Varieties", 1997/98
Edition unless otherwise stated.
FD
BW
VW
FW
AN
PRR
SAA
PA
Rushmore
Aspen
Innovator +Z
Affinity + Z
ABI 9352 1
4
4
3
4
5
HR
HR
HR
HR
R
R
R
HR
HR
HR
HR
HR
HR
HR
HR
HR
HR
HR
HR
HR
HR
HR
HR
HR
R
HR
HR
MR
HR
HR
R
R
MR
LM-331 1
H-154
LM 459
Accord
DK127
4
5
5
4
3
R
R
R
MR
HR
HR
MR
R
R
HR
HR
HR
HR
R
R
HR
HR
R
R
R
HR
HR
MR
HR
HR
HR
MR
HR
HR
HR
HR
5396 1
5246
Extend
3
3
3
HR
R
HR
HR
R
R
R
R
HR
R
HR
HR
R
R
HR
R
R
R
R
Charger 1
Webfoot MPR
3
4
HR
HR
R
HR
HR
HR
HR
HR
HR
HR
Excalibur II 1
Magnum III
Oneida VR
Vernal
Vernema
4
3
2
4
HR
R
R
R
MR
R
MR
HR
HR
R
HR
MR
HR
MR
MR
HR
R
MR
W45 1
HayGrazer
WL 252 HQ
Blazer
Blazer XL
5
4
2
3
3
MR
HR
HR
HR
R
LR
R
HR
LR
R
HR
HR
HR
R
HR
R
HR
LR
HR
R
HR
MR
HR
Baralfa 54'
5
R
R
HR
HR
Baralfa 32 IQ /
3
HR
R
HR
HR
Ranger'
3
LR
Variety
1
MR
/ Data based on company or breeder information.
130 Klamath Experiment Station 1997
SN
APH
S
MR
R
R
R
R
HR
R
R
R
HR
R
R
MR
R
MR
MR
HR
R
MR
R
R
R
R
R
MR
MR
R
LR
HR
R
R
R
HR
MR
R
R
MR
SRKN NRKN
R
HR
R
R
MR
R
R
HR
MR
MR
MR
LR
MR
R
BAA
LR
MR
HR
R
R
MR
R
R
HR
R
R
HR
R
HR
HR
HR
MR
R
HR
HR
R
R
R
MR
HR
R
MR
R
R
HR
MR