PJB-2021-774
Effect of row spacing and harvest method on seed yield of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)
Ilker Inal
Abstract
The optimal seed yield achieving from forage legumes production on of the biggest challenge to modern farming system under changing of climate. This research was conducted to evaluate the effect of row spacing and harvest method on the seed yield and yield components in alfalfa. The research was done at East Mediterranean Agricultural Research Institute during 2012 and 2015 arranging in a split-plot design with four replications. Row spacings (25, 50, 75 and 100 cm) were assigned in the main plots and harvest methods (HM1: cutting with mower to form windrows to air dry and then threshing with plot combine, HM2: harvest directly with the plot combine, HM3: harvest with the plot combine after ethephon plus cyclanilide application as defoliant, and HM4:harvest with the plot combine after thidiazuron plus diuron application as defoliant) were in the subplots. Row spacing and harvest method significantly affected on the number of pods per plant, the number of seeds per pod and seed yield, but it was not significant influence on seed germination. The highest seed yield (829 kg ha-1) (three years average) was obtained with 25 cm row spacing with HM3, while the lowest yield (412 kg ha-1) was obtained with 100 cm row spacing with HM1. Generally, the results of the study showed that defoliant application with 25 cm row spacing and narrower row spacing (25-50 cm) with HM2 or HM3 were the most effective combinations of treatments for alfalfa seed production in the ukurova region of Turkey.
To Cite this article:
Inal, I. 2023. Effect of row spacing and harvest method on seed yield of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Pak. J. Bot., 55(2): DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.30848/PJB2023-2(33)
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