IRRIGATED ALFALFA VARIETY TRIALS* Mylen Bohle and Steven R. James Central Oregon Agricultural Research Center Madras, OR

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1 IRRIGATED ALFALFA VARIETY TRIALS* Mylen Bohle and Steven R. James Central Oregon Agricultural Research Center Madras, OR Abstract Twenty two alfalfa varieties were planted in 1987 at the Central Oregon Agricultural Research Center (COARC) - Powell Butte site. Twelve seed companies and/or originating agencies cooperated with this trial. The cultivars were evaluated for yield potential. The trial was completed in Twelve varieties yielded above the mean for the five years. 'Vernal' was the lowest yielding variety, 5.25 tons per acre less than Ultra, the top yielder. Introduction Alfalfa forage production represents a significant part of the agricultural production in central Oregon. Around 50,000 acres are grown annually. Alfalfa is a major cash crop produced for sale, much of it going to western Oregon dairies. Local use for cattle, sheep, horses and llamas is quite extensive as well. Alfalfa variety trials have been conducted in central Oregon for years. The Powell Butte Site is the current testing site and will probably remain so in the near future. The elevation at Powell Butte is 3,180 feet and provides good conditions for winter hardiness information and performance of cultivars under a three-cut harvest regime. The growing season is around 80 to 90 days. Plans are also under way to coordinate the alfalfa variety trials at all of the Oregon State University branch experiment stations in the near future. All trials will be established in the same year so better comparison of the cultivars across locations and climates can be made. Materials and Methods Non-coated inoculated seed of 22 alfalfa cultivars were planted in six 8 inch rows on June 29, 1987 at the COARC Powell Butte site. Eighteen pounds of seed were planted with a cone plot planter into plots 5 ft wide x 20 ft long. The trial was replicated four times in a randomized complete block design. In July of 1987, broadleaf weeds were controlled with a tank mix of Buctril and 2,4 DB when the alfalfa had 2 to 3 trifoliate leaves. Velpar (0.75 lb These trials were partially supported by initial and annual testing fees collected from ABI/Agri Pro, Andrew Seed Co., Asgrow Seed Co., Cargill Inc., DeKalb-Pfizer Genetics, ICI Seeds, Keller Seed, Northrup King Co., Pioneer Hi- Bred, International, Inc., Seed Tech, and W-L Research, Inc. 84

2 controlled with a tank mix of Buctril and 2,4 DB when the alfalfa had 2 to 3 trifoliate leaves. Velpar (0.75 lb a.i./a) and paraquat (0.5 lb al./a) were applied in the late winter of The cultivar name and source (entering or originating agency) are shown in Table 1. No fertilizer was incorporated into the seedbed before planting. Spring soil test results were as follows: 6.3 ph, 20 ppm P, 179 ppm K, and 10.6 ppm N-NO3. Ninety to 100 lbs of sulfur were applied annually as gypsum over the course of the trial. Two lbs. of boron were applied in 1991 and One ton of lime was top-dressed in the spring of The trial was sprinkler irrigated throughout the year as needed. The area harvested was 3.3 ft wide x 15 ft long in 1988 and 1989, and 3.5 ft x 15 ft in 1990, 1991, and At harvest a sample (approximately one pound) was taken for moisture determination and dry matter calculation. The samples were oven-dried in all years. From 1990 to 1992 the samples were dried at 149 F until there was no change in weight. The yield data are presented as oven-dry. Harvest dates are listed in the data tables. Table 1. Variety name and source of alfalfa cultivars tested at Powell Butte from 1987 to Variety Source* Arrow Apollo II ABI/Agri Pro ABI/Agri Pro Vernema Wrangler Andrew Seed Co. Andrew Seed Co. ICI 629 ICI Seeds ICI 636 ICI Seeds KS 101 Keller Seed Commander Northrup King Fortress Northrup King Meteor Trumpetor Northrup King Northrup King 5432 Pioneer 5331 Pioneer Ultra Seed Tech Max 85 Seed Tech W 12 WA-USDA W 45 WA-USDA Vernal Andrew Seed Co. WL 225 W-L Research WL 320 W-L Research 120 DeKalb-Pfizer 85

3 135 DeKalb-Pfizer Eagle Asgrow Endure Cargill * Source: entering or originating agency Results and Discussion The results from the 1988 crop year are published in the Central Oregon Crop Research repost, OSU Agricultural Experiment Station Special Report 847, October 1987, "Alfalfa Variety Trials in Central Oregon". The yield data for 1989, 1990, 1991, and 1992 are listed in Tables 2, 3, 4, and 5. `Vernal', the check variety, was the poorest yielding cultivar in the trial. Vernal's yield was 5.25 ton per acre less than 'Ultra', the top yielder at t/a. Twelve varieties yielded between (mean total yield for five years) and t/a. To aid in cultivar selection, the annual data have been presented in an annual yield summary (Table 6), cumulative annual yield summary (Table 7), and percent relative yield to check summary (Table 8). If longevity of stand is a concern, compare varieties in the final year of production. There are a lot of good varieties on the market. 86

4 Table yield results of the alfalfa varieties in tons per acre at Powell Butte. Variety 1st Cut 2nd Cut Cut 1 & 2 3rd Cut Total Arrow Apollo II Vernema Wrangler Eagle Endure DeKalb DeKalb ICI ICI KS Trumpetor Fortress Ultra Max W W Vernal* WL WL Mean Harvest date 6/1 7/20 9/12 PLSD CV % * Check variety 87

5 Table yield results of the alfalfa varieties in tons per acre at Powell Butte. Variety 1st Cut 2nd Cut Cut 1 & 2 3rd Cut Total Arrow Apollo II Vernema Wrangler Eagle Endure DeKalb DeKalb ICI ICI KS Trumpetor Fortress Ultra Max W W Vernal WL WL Mean Harvest date 6/13 7/27 9/19 PLSD NS PLSD.05 NS NS 0.29 NS PLSD.01 NS NS 0.39 NS CV %

6 Table alfalfa variety trial yield results in tons per acre at Powell 1st cut 2nd cut Cuts Cut 3 Cuts 1 & 2 1, 2 & 3 Arrow Apollo II Vernema Wrangler Eagle Endure DeKalb DeKalb ICI ICI KS Trumpetor Fortress Ultra Max W W Vernal* WL WL Mean Harvest Date 6/26 8/5 9/27 PLSD.10 NS 0.26 NS PLSD.05 NS 0.31 NS PLSD.01 NS NS NS CV % * Check variety 89

7 Table alfalfa variety yield results in tons per acre at Powell Butte. Variety 1st Cut 2nd Cut Total Cut 1&2 3rd Cut Total Cuts 1-3 4th Cut 1992 Total Arrow Apollo II Vernema Wrangler Eagle Endure DeKalb DeKalb ICI ICI KS Trumpetor Fortress Ultra Max W W Vernal* WL WL Mean Harvest 6/4 7/14 N.A. 8/18 N.A. 10/15 N.A. PLSD NS NS 0.16 NS NS 0.61 NS NS NS NS.01 NS NS NS NS NS NS NS CV% * Check variety 90

8 Table alfalfa annual yield summary in tons per acre at Powell Butte. Variety Total Arrow Apollo II Vemema Wrangler Eagle Endure DeKalb DeKalb ICI ICI KS Trumpetor Fortress Ultra Max W W Vernal* WL WL Mean * Check variety 91

9 Table cumulative yield summary of alfalfa varieties in tons per acre at Powell Butte. Variety Arrow Apollo II Vernema Wrangler Eagle Endure DeKalb DeKalb ICI ICI KS Trumpetor Fortress Ultra Max W W Vernal* WL L Mean *check variety 92

10 Table percent relative yield compared to 'Vernal' at Powell Butte. Variety Year Total Arrow Apollo II Vernema Wrangler Eagle Endure DeKalb DeKalb ICI ICI KS Trumpetor Fortress Ultra Max W W Vernal* WL WL Mean * Check variety