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CROP GROWTH IN EARLY SPRING AND RADIATION USE EFFICIENCY IN ALFALFA

M. AKMAL^1*, UZMA FARID², M. ASIM³, FARHATULLAH⁴ AND RAZIUDDIN⁵

Abstract: The study was conducted at Agronomy Research Farm, KP Agricultural University Peshawar. Fifteen alfalfa lines (M. sativa L.) were compared for crop growth rate (CGR), biomass yield and radiation use efficiency (RUE).  The previous year experiment was defoliated on 13^th March 2006 at ground levels about 5 cm height. Fertilizer to the crop was applied every year in 1^st week of March to yield 30, 60, & 30 kg ha^-1 N, P, & K, respectively after defoliation. Periodic samples were harvested from one meter row length at two locations and oven dried at 70^OC for about 36 h. Before samples, periodic leaf area index (LAI) was recorded with LI-2000 (LI-COR, USA) and subsequently light measurements were made using data logger (LI-1400, LI-COR, USA) and light sensors LI-190 and LI-191 (LI-COR, USA). The CGR showed variation in shapes and asymptotes for the different alfalfa lines which resulted differences in both fresh and dry matters yield at final sampling harvest. Alfalfa line Gramma-2 was the highest in dry matter yield (110 g m^-2) followed by Flewish-pop (107 g m^-2). Alfalfa line Pumha with 74 g m^-2 was the lowest in dry matter yield. Differences were observed in LAI (p<0.05). High dry matter yield of alfalfa line Gramma-2 was due to higher LAI which was associated to highest leaf fraction (38%). Differences in RUE were also observed among the lines. Flewish-pop was the highest in RUE (0.20 g DM MJ^-2 PAR absorbed), followed by Gramma-2 (0.18 g DM MJ^-2 PAR absorbed). Mean CGR and RUE of the different lines showed association with dry matter yield of which the lateral one showed a strong association compared with the earlier one. We conclude that higher RUE than CGR is important for the line/variety to get quality fodder production.

^{1, 2, 4 & 5} KP Agricultural University Peshawar, Pakistan

³CCRI Pirsabak, Nowshera, Pakistan.

*Corresponding author: Department of Agronomy, KP Agricultural University, Peshawar

Email: akmal_M@hotmail.com, Tel. 0092-91-9218597