Publication Date

1985

Location

Kyoto Japan

Description

Red clover and white clover do not produce sufficiently for mixtures for hay or silage in the central district of Hokkaido. Alfalfa, for its part, is not yet widely cultivated in this district despite its superior longevity and higher productivity. The objective of this research is to verify the compatibility of alfalfa cultivars mixed with orchardgrass and timothy to give the grass species suited well to local conditions. Orchardgrass and timothy cultivars were mixed with a red clover cultivar and an alfalfa cultivar in Experiment 1 and with erect, medium and prostrate type alfalfa cultivars in Experiment 2, in one grass-one legume mixtures, respectively. The red clover component disappeared almostly from the mixtures based on orchardgrass or timothy in the 3rd year of the production. The timothy components also disappeared from the erect type alfalfa cultivar-based mixtures. Orchardgrass-alfalfa mixtures were compatible and got the highest yield. Some erect and medium type alfalfa cultivars had good compatibility with orchardgrass cultivars. Furthermore, some became dominant. Some medium type alfalfa cultivars suppressed timothy cultivars, but some prostrate type alfalfa cultivars were compatible. Species and cultivars, being more competitive, are not necessarily good partners in mixtures. The compatibility of components in the mixtures could not be predicted by their performance in pure stands; it could only be ascertained in mixtures ��nder practical conditions.

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Interaction of Component Cultivars in Grass-Alfalfa Mixtures

Kyoto Japan

Red clover and white clover do not produce sufficiently for mixtures for hay or silage in the central district of Hokkaido. Alfalfa, for its part, is not yet widely cultivated in this district despite its superior longevity and higher productivity. The objective of this research is to verify the compatibility of alfalfa cultivars mixed with orchardgrass and timothy to give the grass species suited well to local conditions. Orchardgrass and timothy cultivars were mixed with a red clover cultivar and an alfalfa cultivar in Experiment 1 and with erect, medium and prostrate type alfalfa cultivars in Experiment 2, in one grass-one legume mixtures, respectively. The red clover component disappeared almostly from the mixtures based on orchardgrass or timothy in the 3rd year of the production. The timothy components also disappeared from the erect type alfalfa cultivar-based mixtures. Orchardgrass-alfalfa mixtures were compatible and got the highest yield. Some erect and medium type alfalfa cultivars had good compatibility with orchardgrass cultivars. Furthermore, some became dominant. Some medium type alfalfa cultivars suppressed timothy cultivars, but some prostrate type alfalfa cultivars were compatible. Species and cultivars, being more competitive, are not necessarily good partners in mixtures. The compatibility of components in the mixtures could not be predicted by their performance in pure stands; it could only be ascertained in mixtures ��nder practical conditions.