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A Clonal Competition Experiment with Alfalfa, Medicago sativa L. ¹

Two levels of competition were tested with spaced plantings of 83 clones of ‘Vernal’ alfalfa. Homocompetition was defined as a propagule of a clone competing against other propagules of the same clone whereas heterocompetition was a propagule of a clone competing against propagules of any other clone randomly extracted from the same source population. Plant characteristics evaluated were dry forage weight, crown width, stem length, and stem number. No strong evidence supporting the existence of differences between the two competition levels was found. A clone x competition level interaction was detected. Examination of the association between competing plants and their bordering plants suggested unequal propagule development and unknowing selection of the most vigorous and largest propagules for the center subplot positions at the tune of transplanting.

Key Words: Legume • Genetic • Homocompetion • Heterocomposition

² Associate Professor, Department of Plant Science, South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota 57006.

Received for publication April 1, 1969.