Effect of mixed cropping of alfalfa and sanfoin on forage yield and alfalfa weevil (Hypera postica L.) control

Subject Areas :

Gholamreza Taherioun ¹ (M.Sc, Assistant Prof., and B.Sc., respectively, Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center of Zanjan province, Zanjan, Iran.)
Mohammad Vali Tghadosi ² (M.Sc, Assistant Prof., and B.Sc., respectively, Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center of Zanjan province, Zanjan, Iran.)
Mojtaba Namifar ³ (M.Sc, Assistant Prof., and B.Sc., respectively, Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center of Zanjan province, Zanjan, Iran.)
Saied Soodi ⁴ (M.Sc, Assistant Prof., and B.Sc., respectively, Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center of Zanjan province, Zanjan, Iran.)

Received: 2011-06-14 Accepted : 2012-06-13 Published : 2012-04-20

Keywords: alfalfa, sainfon, mixed cropping, alfalfa weevil, Spraying,

Abstract :

Alfalfa and sainfon mixed cropping has a prolonged history in Zanjan province of Iran. In order to evaluate the effect of this approach on forage yield and alfalfa weevil (Hypera postica) population, this research was carried out as split plot based on a randomized complete block design with four replications at Kheir-Abad Research Station of Zanjan Agricultural Research Center in 2003-2005. Spraying and non spraying were considered as levels of the main factor and five ratios of mixed crops (25%, 50%, 75%, and individual crop) were allocated to sub-plots. Combined analysis of variance were made for wet and dry yield and number of weevil larvae population. Results showed that mixed cropping at a ratio of 50% of each crop was the best ratio for mixed cropping, because of its high yield (30.62 t/ha) from sprayed plots, and non-significant yield decrease in unsprayed plots (29.42 t/ha).

References:

Albayrak S, Turk M, Yuksel O, Yilmaz M (2011) Forage yield and the quality of perennial legume-grass mixtures under rainfed conditions.  Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca 39(1): 114-118.

Bani-Sadr N, Bazgosha F (1998) Study of meadow grass and clover mixed culture. Seed and Plant Improvement Institute Journal  13 (2): 3-10.

Ceraj AA, Esmaili M (1999) Comparison of chemical and non chemical weevil controls methods and its residues on alfalfa leaves. The 9^th Iranian Plant Protection Congress. Mashad. [In Persian with English Abstract].

Conrad HR, Klopfenstein TJ (1988) Role of livestock feeding-green chop, silage, hay, and dehy. In: Hansen, AA, Varnes, DK, and Hill, RR (Eds), Alfalfa and Alfalfa Improvement. American Society Agronomy. Madison, WI. pp. 539-551.

Dowdy AK (1992) Late fall harvest, winter grazing, and weed control for reduction of alfalfa weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) populations. Journal of Economic Entomology 85 (5): 137-143.

Gaudet DA, Sands DC, Mathre DE, Ditterline RL (1980) The role of bactria in the root and crown rot complex of irrigated sainfon in Montana. Phytopathology 70 (2) :161-167.

Ghaffari A (1998) Comparison of yield alfalfa forage and orchard grass in their mixture and pure culture. Seed and Plant Improvement Institute Journal 14 (3): 1-9.

Habibi J (1985) Bioechology of alfalfa weevil in 1985. Research Report of Plant Pests and Diseases Research Laboratory, Karaj. [In Persian with English Abstract].

Iwaasa1 AD, Jefferson PG, Lemke R (2007) Beef cattle grazing and forage production: comparison of alfalfa-grass versus sanfoin pastures. American Society of Animal Science, Western Section. 57: 249-251.             

Jefferson PG, Lawrence, Irvin RB, Kielly GA (1994) Evaluation of sainfon-alfalfa mixtures for forage production  and compatability at a semi-arid location in southern Sackatchewan, Canadian Journal of Plant Science 74 (4): 785-791.

Kandu BC, Chatorjec BV (1981) Growth analysis of tumeric as a sole crop and mixture with other crops. Indian Agricultural Science 52: 584-589.

Karimpour GH (1994) Examine several insecticide residues on alfalfa leaves. M.Sc. Thesis, Agricultural Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Moddares University, Tehran. [In Persian with English Abstract].

Khaza'I HR, Kochaki A (1994) Effect of different ratios of seed yield and forage quality in pure and mixed cultures of barley and vetch (Vicia sativa) forage species. The Third Iranian Congress of Crop and Plant Breeding, Karaj, Seed and Plant Improvement Institute. [In Persian with English Abstract].

Lamp WO (1991) Reduced Empoasca babe (Homoptera: Cicadellidae) density in oat -alfalfa intercrop systems. Environmental Entomology 20: 118-126.

Langer V, Kiane J, Lyngkiaer M (2007) Intercropping for pest management: The ecological concept. In: Koul O, and Cuperrus  W (Eds), Ecologically Based Integrated Pest Management, pp. 74-109.

Majidi  MA and Subhani A (1998) Investigation of the possibility of mixed cultures of perennial grass and alfalfa and its effect on qualitative and quantitative yield of forage. The 5^th Iranian Congress of Crop and Plant Breeding, Karaj, Seed and Plant Improvement Institute. [In Persian with English Abstract].

Mazaheri D (1994) Mixed farming. Tehran University Press, 276 pp.

Modeir Shanehchi M (1996) Forage production and plant management. Publication of Astan Qods Razavi. Mashhad. 448 pp.

Schauber BD (1988) Effect of spring burning on insects in alfalfa seed field. Journal of Economic Entomology 81(2): 668-674.

Shabestari R (1998) Agronomic advantages, economic and environmental alfalfa cultivation and orchard grass mix in Shabestar. East Azarbaijan. The 5^th Iranian Congress of Crop and Plant Breeding, Karaj, Seed and Plant Improvement Institute. [In Persian with English Abstract].

Torabi M, Kashani A, Noor Mohammad G (1998) Evaluation of the effect of plant density and genotype on quantitative and qualitative characteristics of forage clover berseem and barley grown in the weather conditions of Ahwaz. The 5^th Iranian Congress of Crop and plant Breeding, Karaj, Seed and Plant Improvement Institute [In Persian with English Abstract].

Torabi M, Kashani A, Noor Moham: mad G (1998). Growth process of clover (Berseem) and barley in pure cultures and their mixture. The 5^th Iranian Congress of Crop and plant Breeding, Karaj, Seed and Plant Improvement Institute. [In Persian with English Abstract].

Van Keuren RW, Matches AG (1988). Pasture production and utilization. In: Hanson AA, Barnes DK and Hill RR (Eds), Alfalfa and alfalfa improvement. American Society Agronomy. Madison, WI., pp. 515-538.

Wang Y, Berg BP, Barbieri LR, Veira DM, Mc Allister TA (2006) Comparison of alfalfa and mixed alfalfa-sainfoin pastures for grazing cattle: Effects on incidence of bloat, ruminal fermentation, and feed intake. Canadian Journal of Animal Science 86(3): 383-392.