The Effect of Planting Density and Harvest Time on Yield of Hamedani Alfalfa Ecotype (Medicago sativa L.) in Hamedan Region

Subject Areas : Journal of Crop Ecophysiology

Saiedeh Salavati ¹ , Hojatollah Mazaher laghab ² , Mehdi Kakaei ³

1 - Departement of Agriculture, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran.
2 - Plant Breeding
3 - Department of Agriculture, Payame Noor university, Tehran, Iran

Received: 2022-09-18 Accepted : 2023-05-06 Published : 2024-09-22

Keywords: Seed harvest, Row space, 1000-seed weight, Alfalfa,

Abstract :

To improve the yield of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), application of appropriate harvesting time and use of desirable planting density are useful. In order to evaluate these two factors on alfalfa yield, an experiment was performed as a strip split-plot design based on randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replicates. The factor planting density at three row spacing levels (40, 50, and 60 cm) in the vertical plots and the factor forage harvesting time at four phonological stages were studied in the horizontal plots. The results of the mean comparison showed that in both experimental years, increasing the row spacing to 50 and 60 cm and harvesting the forage at bud initiation and flower emergence stage resulted in a significant increase in number of pods per plant and seed weight per plant. In the first year, increasing the row spacing to 60 cm and harvesting time at the stage of flower bud emergence led to a significant increase in the 1000-seed weight. Overall, in both experimental years, increasing the row spacing to 50 cm and forage harvesting at the bud emergence and flower emergence stages resulted in a significant increase in seed yield. Therefore, low planting density and forage harvesting in the early flowering period in the first harvest is recommended to increase alfalfa seed yield in subsequent harvests.

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