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Fall Harvest Management of Alfalfa. I. Date of Fall Harvest aind Length of Growth Period Prior to Fall Harvest

Mississippi Coop. Ext. Serv., Jackson, MS 39211
Dep. of Agronomy, Virginia Polytech. Inst. and State Univ., Blacksburg, VA 24061
Dep. of Statistics VPI and SU, Blacksburg, VA 24061

^* Corresponding author.

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) harvest schedules are often interrupted by various factors. Interruptions in ideal alfalfa harvest schedules can delay the final harvest to dates considered critical to winter survival. The objectives of this study were to determine if a critical period for fall harvest management actually exists at 80°25' W Long., 37°ll' N Lat., and 610-111 elevation in Virginia, and if length of the growth period prior to final fall harvest (GPPFH) influences plant persistence and succeeding spring yields. Final fall alfalfa harvest was made 10, 20, or 30 September or 10,20, or 30 October for 2 yr in two identical experiments. Alfalfa was managed to achieve a 30-, 40-, 50-, or 60-d GPPFH. The soil was a mixture of Landisburg silt loam (fine-loamy, mixed, mesic Typic Fragiudult) and Greendale silt loam (fine-loamy, siliceous, mesic Fluventic Dystrochrept). Total nonstructural carbohydrates (TNC) in taproots and population of surviving plants were determined in December (214–351 g kg^–1) and March (141-221 g kg^–1). Succeeding spring yields in May ranged from 1.0 to 3.1 Mg ha^–1 and were a measure of accumulated influence of management treatments. Harvests made at any time during the fall period did not cause stand density reduction. Length of GPPFH was more important than date of fall harvest in making management decisions for fall harvest. Succeeding spring yields and TNC levels were generally high for the 504 growth period, and fall harvest yield would offset any reductions in spring yield observed in this study. In addition, fall harvests made with a 50-d GPPFH maintained quality and leafiness better than the 60-d GPPFH. With the exception of the 30 October fall harvest date, a critical period was eliminated by increasing the GPPFH to 50 or more days. The 30 October fall harvest required a 60-d GPPFH for maximum spring production.

Key Words: Crude protein • Medicago sativa L. • Nonstructural carbohydrates • Vigor

Received for publication July 24, 1987.

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