THREE-CUT IRRIGATED ALFALFA VARIETY TRIAL: YIELD RESULTS. Mylen Bohle and Rhonda Bafus. Abstract

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1 THREE-CUT IRRIGATED ALFALFA VARIETY TRIAL: YIELD RESULTS Mylen Bohle and Rhonda Bafus Abstract Alfalfa is an important crop for central Oregon. Twenty-six varieties were planted in August of 1998 at the Central Oregon Agricultural Research Center, Powell Butte, Oregon. The trial was conducted as a three-cut harvest management system over 4 years. The top 10 varieties were 5312, 53VO8, Ultra, ABT 350, DK 134, WL 334RK, Imperial, Affinity + Z, Leafmaster, and Plumas. These varieties represented the top 10, 5, and 3 varieties, which had no statistical yield difference based on protected least significant difference (PLSD) 0.01, PLSD 0.05, and PLSD 0.10, respectively. The lowest yielding three varieties ( Agate, Winema, and Vernal ) were public varieties with little or no resistance to verticillium wilt. The 4-year yield ranges were from to Introduction Alfalfa continues to be an important crop for central and eastern Oregon. Over the years, there has been a range of 35,000 to 50,000 acres of alfalfa grown in Crook, Dschutes, and Jefferson counties. The alfalfa is grown in pure stands and grass/alfalfa mixtures for hay. The hay produced is marketed to small and large livestock producers, dairies, and feed stores in Oregon, Washington, and California, as well as consumed on the farm and ranch. Some alfalfa is exported to Canada and Pacific Rim countries. Alfalfa is an important rotational crop to reduce disease and insect problems by breaking their life cycles, and adds nitrogen to the soil for subsequent crops. Alfalfa fixes nitrogen, so does not require nitrogen fertilizer applications. Seed companies continue to develop and market numerous varieties. The varieties need to be tested locally for their adaptability and yield potential. The information generated by variety trials is important to producers, crop consultants, seed suppliers, and the sponsoring seed companies. Materials and Methods Soil samples were taken and analyzed by the Oregon State University Plant and Soil Analytical Laboratory, Corvallis, Oregon (Table 1). Based on the soil test results, lime, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, and boron were applied and worked (disked) into the top 6 inches of soil on April 18, 1998 (Table 2.). The field was then leveled and rolled prior to planting. Table 1. Soil test analyses from alfalfa variety trial soil samples taken at Powell Butte, Or. Date Depth (in) OM (%) ph P K Ca (meq/100g) Mg (meq/100g) B Zn Sol Salts Mmhos/cm Se Mn Total Bases 7/10/ /3/ / <0.10* / * Below the minimum detectable level - 1 -

2 Table 2. Nutrient applications made to the alfalfa variety trial at Powell Butte, Or. Date Applied N (lb/acre P 2 O 5 K 2 O Ca S B Zn 4/11/ , /17/ /24/ /24/ /23/ /29/ Twenty-six alfalfa varieties were planted at the Central Oregon Agricultural Research Center (COARC) at the Powell Butte site, on August 24, Variety names, fall dormacy, and pest resistance ratings are listed in Table 3. The trial site is located 7 miles west of Prineville and 12 miles east of Redmond at an elevation of 3,180 ft. Inoculated seed of each variety was planted at the rate of 18 lb/acre with a Oyjard small plot cone-type drill with nine rows on 6-inch row spacing. The field was rolled after planting. Plot size was 5 by 20 ft, while harvested area was 3.5 by 15 ft. The alfalfa was harvested with a sickle-bar forage plot harvester, and fresh yield was weighed directly in the field. Harvest was at late bud to early flower on first cutting and at first flower to 10 percent flower for second cutting. Third cutting was at late bud to 10 percent flower. Aftermath from the plots was swathed, raked and baled with fairly high moisture content (rather than waiting for typical moisture to bale) to help clear the field and get the irrigation water back on the field as soon as possible. Harvest dates are listed for each cutting in the annual yield tables. The trial was solid-set, sprinkler irrigated with a 30 by 40 ft spacing as needed for establishment and during the season. Nelson rotating head Windfighter 2000 nozzles were used. Irrigation was determined by crop water use prediction by the Agri-met weather station program and by probing the soil with a soil probe. An Agri-met weather station is located at the COARC. The trial was irrigated 1-2 times per week, depending upon crop evapotranspirtation. Between second and third cutting in 2001, the irrigation nozzles were changed from 7/64-inch to 9/64-inch Nelson rotating head wind fighter 2000 nozzles. We saw no problems with irrigation coverage up to the switch, even though the wrong size nozzle had been used since the start of the trial. Pursuit (1 DG Eco Pak bag), Poast (0.47 lb/acre a.i.) and 2 quarts of crop oil were applied for weed control September 17, 1998 of the establishment year. The first winter dormant weed control included applying Velpar L (0.75 lb/acre a.i.), Gramoxone Extra (0.5 lb/acre a.i.) and Kerb (1 lb/acre a.i.), on February 9, Velpar L (0.75 lb/acre a.i.), Kerb (1 lb/acre a.i.), and Gramoxone Extra (0.5 lb/acre a.i.) were applied on December 6, 2000 for the third production year. Velpar (0.5 lb/acre a.i.), Gramoxone Extra (0.5 lb/acre a.i.), and Spredor 90 (1 pint/100 gal) were applied in January 15, 2002 for the fourth production year. On June - 2 -

3 30, 2000, Baythroid (2.88 oz/acre) was applied by aerial application to control Egyptian Alfalfa Weevil. Moisture samples (0.5 to 1.0 lb) were taken for each plot and dried at 145 F until no further change in weight occurred. s are presented on an oven-dry, dry matter basis. The trial was laid out in a randomized block design with four replications. SAS statistical software was used for analysis of variance and results are reported using protected least significant difference (PLSD) for mean separation at the P = 0.10, 0.05, and 0.01 probability levels. Table 3. The fall dormancy, disease, and pest ratings for the 1998 planted alfalfa variety trial conducted at the COARC, Powell Butte, OR. Variety FD 1,2 WH 3 BW 4 VW FW AN PRR SAA PA BAA SN APH SRKN NRKN RLN Agate Vernal WL HQ VO ABT Baralfa IQ DK DK Imperial Leafmaster Rhino Ultra WL HQ 5301 IQ ABT SCL Ace Affinity Z Plumas Vernema Winema WL RK Wrangler ZX Robust ZC FD = Fall dormancy, WH = Winter hardiness, BW = Bacterial wilt, VW = Verticillium wilt, FW = Fusarium wilt, AN = Anthracnose race 1, PRR = Phytophthora root rot, SAA = Spotted alfalfa aphid, PA = Pea aphid, BAA = Blue alfalfa aphid, SN = Stem nematode, APH = Aphanomyces, SKN = Southern root knot nematode, NRKN = Northern root knot nematode, RLN = Root lesion nematode. 2 Fall dormancy (FD) ratings: 1 = most dormant, 10 = least dormant. 3 Winter hardiness (WH): 1 = most winter hardy, 6 = least winter hardy. 4 Resistance ratings: 1 = Susceptible (0-5% of plants) or has not been tested, 2 = Low resistance (5-15% of plants), 3 = Moderate resistance (15-30% of plants), 4 = Resistance (30-50% of plants), 5 = High resistance (>50% of plants) - 3 -

4 Results and Discussion Weed control was excellent for the trial and the winters were relatively mild for the 4 years of the trial. The yield data for each year and end-of-trial are presented in table 4. The annual and individual cutting and annual yield data for production years are presented in tables 5-8. Table 9 presents the annual and total yield data in percent relative yield compared to the annual mean yield, and the total four year relative yield (percent) compared to Vernal. Four out of the five public varieties ( Vernema [an exception], Wrangler, Agate, Winema, and Vernal ) yielded below average at the beginning of the trial and were ranked number 12, 19, 23, 24, and 25 out of 26 entries in Their ranking declined, compared to the private company entries in general, as the trial progressed. At the end of 4 years, Vernema, Wrangler, Vernal, Winema, and Agate were ranked 15, 18, 24, 25, and 26 out of 26 varieties. These varieties have little or no resistance to verticillium wilt. Vernema, which was ranked 15 th at the end of four years, does have a 3 (MR) rating for verticillium wilt, which might help explain it s better yield compared to the rest of the public varieties. But there were other varieties that yielded less than Vernema, and had much greater verticillium wilt resistance, indicating that variety adaptation may relate to a specific site more than any single disease. Even though this was not an intensive-harvest management regime, these varieties yielded less than most. Based on their yield ranking, one would have expected WL325 HQ, Ace, Robust, Baralfa 32 IQ, and 5301 IQ to be varieties with little resistance to verticillium wilt, but all have resistance levels of 4 (R) to 5 (HR). These five varieties were ranked 19-23, near the bottom of the trial after four production years. So while it is important to pick varieties with 4 (R) or 5 (HR) ratings for verticillium wilt, it does not always assure one of obtaining the highest yield. Regional variety trials help further refine the selection process of how the variety will do in the area, under specific management. The top yielding varieties at the end of the 4 years did not all start out on top. Out of the top 10 ranked varieties for the first year, six of the varieties finished in the top 10 ranking after 4 years of production. The top 10 were 5312, 53VO8, Ultra, ABT 350, DK 134, WL 334 RK, Imperial, Affinity + Z, Leafmaster, and Plumus. These top 10 varieties were not different from each other statistically in yield, based on PLSD 0.01 = There was no difference between the top 5 varieties based on PLSD 0.05 = There was no difference in yield between the top 3 varieties based on PLSD 0.10 = These top 10 varieties produced percent more yield than the mean of the trial, or they produced from percent more yield than did Vernal. Average yield for the trial was with a range of If a variety is chosen for a very short rotation of 1-2 years, one should determine how that variety yielded in the first year, or two. Varieties that produced very well in the first year included Leafmaster, Ultra, and ABT 400 SCL (see Tables 5 and 9). Choosing a variety for only a 2-4 -

5 year rotation, one would pick Leafmaster, Ultra, 53VO8, 5312, ABT 400 SCL, or WL 334 RK, based on specific field conditions and pests present (see Tables 4-6 and 9). To choose a variety for long-term rotation, consider its total yield at the end of 4 years (see Tables 4 and 9). If one is planning on an even longer term stand, also pay attention to variety yield in the last production year (see Tables 8 and 9). Choose a variety that was still producing strong, above average for the trial, or yielding higher than its contemporaries. Varieties that were still producing strong or better compared to the average of the trial in the fourth year, included 5312, DK 134, 53VO8 (PLSD 0.10 = 0.36 ), Rhino (to PLSD 0.05 = 0.43 ), ABT 350, and Affinity + Z (to PLSD 0.01 = 0.57 ) (see Tables 8 and 9). But it also could mean choosing another variety altogether, because of pests and certain management decisions (see Table 3). Robust and ZC 9651 were the only entries with fall dormancy 5 rating. They ranked 13 th and 21 st respectively for yield after 4 years of comparison. The variety Ultra has been one of the top-yielding varieties since it was first entered in a central Oregon variety test back in It was entered in the , , and the Powell Butte trials. Ultra has been statistically one of the top-yielding varieties in each of these trials. There are many good varieties of alfalfa to choose from. Selecting an alfalfa variety for an individual field is important for maximum forage production over the life of the stand. Producers should test their soil for nematodes prior to establishment of an alfalfa field. Nematode tests for presence and species identification should be done well in advance so that information can be used for better variety selection. Stem nematode, root lesion nematode, and northern root knot nematode are particular species that are present, in central Oregon. There are a fair number of alfalfa varieties with varying degrees of resistance to stem nematode and northern root knot nematode. There are fewer varieties that have resistance to root lesion nematodes. And there are even fewer varieties with resistance to all three nematodes, but there are some available (see Table 3). Producers should take into account other diseases and pests. Verticillium wilt resistance is necessary, and strong resistance to bacterial wilt and fusarium wilt is also good to have. Soil type and texture, and irrigation system are other variables that one should consider when choosing a variety. Flood irrigating soils with heavy clay soil will require more root disease resistance. Lighter soils with sprinkler irrigation may not require as high of level of resistance for the wilts, phytopthera root rot, and aphanomyces (see Table 3). Insect resistance is important. There are no varieties with Egyptian alfalfa weevil resistance. Resistance to the blue alfalfa, spotted alfalfa, and pea aphid is important. Usually the aphids do not cause much damage during the growing season, but occasionally there is an outbreak in central Oregon that causes severe damage (see Table 3). Acknowledgements - 5 -

6 Support for this trial was partially provided by ABI Alfalfa, AgriBioTech, Allied Seed, America s Alfalfa, Barenbrug, Dairyland Seeds, Dekalb, Eureka Seeds, Inc., Geertson Seed, Genesis, The Gooding Seed Co., Monsanto, Novartis, Pioneer Hi-Bred Intl., Union Seed, United Agri-Products, and W-L Research, Inc. Table 4. Four year yield () summary for the 1998 alfalfa variety trial at the COARC, Powell Butte, OR. Variety/Line VO Ultra ABT DK WL 334 RK Imperial Affinity + Z Leafmaster Plumas WL 232HQ Rhino ZC ABT 400SCL Vernema ZX DK Wrangler WL 325HQ Ace Robust Baralfa 32 IQ IQ Vernal Winema Agate Mean PLSD (0.01) NS PLSD (0.05) NS PLSD (0.10) CV% Prob. > F

7 Table yield () results for the 1998 alfalfa variety trial at Powell Butte, OR. Variety/Line 1 st Cut () 2 nd Cut () 3 rd Cut () Total () Leafmaster Ultra ABT 400SCL WL 334 RK V Rhino ZC IQ Affinity+Z Plumas Vernema ABT Imperial ZX DK WL 232HQ WL 325HQ Wrangler Robust Baralfa 32 IQ Ace Agate Winema Vernal DK Mean PLSD (0.01) 0.63 NS 0.28 NS PLSD (0.05) 0.48 NS 0.21 NS PLSD (0.10) CV % Prob. > F Harvest date 6/18 8/3 9/30 N/A - 7 -

8 Table yield () results for the the 1998 alfalfa variety trial at Powell Butte, OR. Variety 1 st Cut 2 nd Cut 3 rd Cut Total yield 53V WL 334 RK Leafmaster Ultra Vernema Imperial ABT IQ WL 325HQ Affinity+Z DK ABT 400SCL Wrangler Rhino WL 232HQ Ace ZC DK ZX Plumas Baralfa 32 IQ Robust Vernal Winema Agate Mean PLSD (0.01) 0.33 NS NS 0.60 PLSD (0.05) 0.25 NS PLSD (0.10) 0.21 NS CV % Prob. > F Harvest date 6/6 7/19 9/13 N/A - 8 -

9 Table yield () results for the 1998 alfalfa variety trial at Powell Butte, OR. Variety 1 st Cut 2 nd Cut 3 rd Cut Total ABT Plumas V DK Ultra DK Imperial Rhino Affinity+Z ABT 400SCL ZX ZC Vernema WL 334 RK Ace WL 232HQ Robust WL 325HQ Baralfa 32 IQ Wrangler Vernal IQ Winema Leafmaster Agate Mean PLSD (0.01) 0.31 NS PLSD (0.05) 0.23 NS PLSD (0.10) CV % Prob. > F Harvest date 6/13 8/1 9/19 N.A

10 Table yield () results for the 1998 alfalfa variety trial at Powell Butte, OR. Variety 1 st Cut 2 nd Cut 3 rd Cut Total DK V Rhino ABT Affinity+Z Ultra DK Plumas Robust ZX Wrangler Winema WL 232HQ Imperial Vernal ZC Ace WL 334 RK ABT 400SCL Vernema Baralfa 32 IQ Leafmaster Agate WL 325HQ IQ Mean PLSD (0.01) NS 0.36 PLSD (0.05) PLSD (0.10) CV % Prob. > F Harvest date 6/12 7/17 9/3 N.A

11 Table 9. Relative yield (percent) comparison of the alfalfa varieties to the annual and 4 year total mean, and total relative yield (percent) comparison to Vernal for the 1998 alfalfa variety trial at Powell Butte, OR. Variety/Line 1999 (% of mean) 2000 (% of mean) 2001 (% of mean) 2002 (% of mean) Total (% of mean) Total (% of Vernal) VO Ultra ABT DK WL 334 RK Imperial Affinity + Z Leafmaster Plumus WL 232HQ Rhino ZC ABT 400SCL Vernema ZX DK Wrangler WL 325HQ Ace Robust Baralfa 32 IQ IQ Vernal Winema Agate Mean

2011 Central Oregon Alfalfa Variety Trial. Rhonda Simmons, Marvin Butler, and Mylen Bohle. Abstract

2011 Central Oregon Alfalfa Variety Trial honda Simmons, Marvin Butler, and Mylen Bohle Abstract An alfalfa variety trial was established in August, 2011 at the Central Oregon Agricultural esearch Center,