Publication Date
1989
Description
Although mixtures tend to provide a better balance of nutrients and can produce higher forage yields, they are more difficult to manage than either grasses or legumes alone (Baylor, 1974). Furthermore; quality can be variable, due to species differences in rates of maturation, and this commonly results in wastage because one of the mixture components typically 1s harvested at a later than ideal stage of maturity. If the growth and chemical composition of one component could be manipulated by the producer, improvements in efficiency could result. This may be possible with plant growth regulators. Recent developments in herbicide chemistry have produced materials that have broad-spectrum phytotoxicity in non-leguminous plants, but tend to have selective growth regulating ability in grasses at lower rates of application. One such compound is 'imazethapyr', [5-ethyl-2-( 4-isopropyl-4-methyl-5-oxo-2-irnidazolin-2-yl)nicotinic acid], a member of the Irnidazolinone family and currently under development by the American Cyanamid Co. (Princeton, NJ) for weed control in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of both mefluidide (MF) and 1mazethapyr (IM) for inhibiting the initial spring growth and improving the quality of first cutting orchardgrass in an orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.)/alfalfa mixture managed for hay production.
Citation
Fales, S L., "Chemical Regulation of Growth and Quality of Orchardgrass/Alfalfa Mixtures" (2025). IGC Proceedings (1989-2023). 51.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1989/session7/51
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Chemical Regulation of Growth and Quality of Orchardgrass/Alfalfa Mixtures
Although mixtures tend to provide a better balance of nutrients and can produce higher forage yields, they are more difficult to manage than either grasses or legumes alone (Baylor, 1974). Furthermore; quality can be variable, due to species differences in rates of maturation, and this commonly results in wastage because one of the mixture components typically 1s harvested at a later than ideal stage of maturity. If the growth and chemical composition of one component could be manipulated by the producer, improvements in efficiency could result. This may be possible with plant growth regulators. Recent developments in herbicide chemistry have produced materials that have broad-spectrum phytotoxicity in non-leguminous plants, but tend to have selective growth regulating ability in grasses at lower rates of application. One such compound is 'imazethapyr', [5-ethyl-2-( 4-isopropyl-4-methyl-5-oxo-2-irnidazolin-2-yl)nicotinic acid], a member of the Irnidazolinone family and currently under development by the American Cyanamid Co. (Princeton, NJ) for weed control in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of both mefluidide (MF) and 1mazethapyr (IM) for inhibiting the initial spring growth and improving the quality of first cutting orchardgrass in an orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.)/alfalfa mixture managed for hay production.
