Publication Date
1985
Location
Kyoto Japan
Description
In spite of the importance of alfalfa for dairy cattle, the cultivation of alfalfa is not yet expanded in eastern Hokkaido, Japan. A combined research project has been carried out, based on (1) observation of winter injury in 130 fields all over the Tokachi district from 1981 to 1983 and (2) observation of the influence of controlled snow depth during the winter 1983-1984 on regrowth of alfalfa. Tokachi was divided into three areas according to the type of winter injury, the depth of snow cover and the depth of soil frost. Both the depth of snow cover and the depth of maximum soil frost of 30 cm to 40 cm were the favorable conditions for cultivation of alfalfa in this district, because the damage due to freezing injury and snow mold injury was very little. However, when the depth of snow cover was below 20 cm or the depth of maximum soil frost was over 50 cm, the freezing injury occuered severely due to decreasing of soil temperature below -5°C. On the other hand, it was found that the damage by Typhula disease increased in the case of the depth of snow cover of more than 40 cm lasted for a long period.
Citation
Komatsu, T; Maruyama, J; Horikawa, Y; and Tsuchiya, F, "Winter Injury of Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) in Soil Freezing Area of Japan" (1985). IGC Proceedings (1985-2023). 13.
(URL: https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1985/ses3/13)
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Winter Injury of Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) in Soil Freezing Area of Japan
Kyoto Japan
In spite of the importance of alfalfa for dairy cattle, the cultivation of alfalfa is not yet expanded in eastern Hokkaido, Japan. A combined research project has been carried out, based on (1) observation of winter injury in 130 fields all over the Tokachi district from 1981 to 1983 and (2) observation of the influence of controlled snow depth during the winter 1983-1984 on regrowth of alfalfa. Tokachi was divided into three areas according to the type of winter injury, the depth of snow cover and the depth of soil frost. Both the depth of snow cover and the depth of maximum soil frost of 30 cm to 40 cm were the favorable conditions for cultivation of alfalfa in this district, because the damage due to freezing injury and snow mold injury was very little. However, when the depth of snow cover was below 20 cm or the depth of maximum soil frost was over 50 cm, the freezing injury occuered severely due to decreasing of soil temperature below -5°C. On the other hand, it was found that the damage by Typhula disease increased in the case of the depth of snow cover of more than 40 cm lasted for a long period.
