Stand Age or Field Rotation Affects Dryland Alfalfa Productivity
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Date
1979
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North Dakota State University
Abstract
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The effect of stand age on dryland alfalfa productivity with annual precipitation variation removed was investigated in field experiments at Fargo, North Dakota. Forage yields in the second and third harvest years were 0.79 and
1.19 tons DM/acre, respectively, less than the first harvest year. A 6-year-old stand produced 2.56 tons DM/acre less forage than a 3-year-old stand in 1976 when precipitation was considerably below normal. Rotating or reestablishing alfalfa on land without a high water table is necessary to obtain maximum dryland alfalfa productivity.