Abstract
Persistence is a critical component of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) crop yield. Our objective was to determine the effect of seeding rate on alfalfa persistence, yield, and yield components and how they evolved over time in irrigated areas with long growing seasons. Two alfalfa cultivars were seeded at four seeding rates (10, 20, 30, and 40 kg ha−1), in three consecutive experiments, and evaluated over a 3-yr period to provide total data for nine location years. Seed rates of 10 kg ha−1 [8.75 kg ha−1 of pure live seed (PLS)] produced total 3-yr dry matter (DM) yields of between 50.8 and 58.9 Mg ha−1. Seed rates only affected total 3-yr DM yields in one of the three experiments. The mean number of shoots per m−2 was 488 and this was not affected by seed rates. The effect of seed density on mean shoot weight depended on the experiment. The annual average crude protein (CP) concentration varied from 159 g kg−1 to 224 g kg−1 while the leaf to stem ratio varied from 0.87 to 1.17. The results suggest that CP and leaf to stem ratios (LSR) were either little influenced or not influenced by seed density. The DM yields and yield components indicate that 8.75 kg ha−1 of PLS could be sufficient to ensure adequate DM production. Results also suggest that in a Mediterranean climate in which sprinkler irrigation is applied, there is little justification for high seeding rates under good establishment conditions.
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Claims 10
Claim · model-written summary
A 10 kg ha−1 seed rate produced 50.8 to 58.9 Mg ha−1 total three-year dry matter yield.
Verbatim
e0“Seed rates of 10 kg ha−1 [8.75 kg ha−1 of pure live seed (PLS)] produced total 3-yr dry matter (DM) yields of between 50.8 and 58.9 Mg ha−1”
Claim · model-written summary
Seed rate affected total three-year dry matter yield in only one of three experiments.
- Taxon
- Alfalfa
Medicago sativat0 - Treatment
- Seed ratese0
- Outcome
- total 3-yr DM yieldse0
- Qualifier
- one of the three experimentse0
Not reportedComparatorDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Seed rates only affected total 3-yr DM yields in one of the three experiments”
t0“Alfalfa”
Claim · model-written summary
Mean shoot density was 488 shoots per square metre and did not vary with seed rate.
- Taxon
- AlfalfaMedicago sativat0
- Treatment
- seed ratese0
- Outcome
- mean number of shoots per m−2e0
- Direction
- not affectede0
- Value
- 488e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The mean number of shoots per m−2 was 488 and this was not affected by seed rates”
t0“Alfalfa”
Claim · model-written summary
The effect of seed density on mean shoot weight depended on the experiment.
- Taxon
- AlfalfaMedicago sativat0
- Treatment
- seed densitye0
- Outcome
- mean shoot weighte0
- Qualifier
- depended on the experimente0
Not reportedComparatorDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The effect of seed density on mean shoot weight depended on the experiment”
t0“Alfalfa”
Claim · model-written summary
Annual average crude protein concentration ranged from 159 to 224 g kg−1.
- Taxon
- AlfalfaMedicago sativat0
- Outcome
- annual average crude protein (CP) concentratione0
- Value
- 159 g kg−1 to 224 g kg−1e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The annual average crude protein (CP) concentration varied from 159 g kg−1 to 224 g kg−1”
t0“Alfalfa”
Claim · model-written summary
Leaf to stem ratio ranged from 0.87 to 1.17.
- Taxon
- AlfalfaMedicago sativat0
- Outcome
- leaf to stem ratioe0
- Value
- 0.87 to 1.17e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the leaf to stem ratio varied from 0.87 to 1.17”
t0“Alfalfa”
Claim · model-written summary
Crude protein concentration was little influenced or not influenced by seed density.
- Taxon
- AlfalfaMedicago sativat0
- Treatment
- seed densitye0
- Outcome
- CPe0
- Direction
- little influenced or not influencede0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“CP and leaf to stem ratios (LSR) were either little influenced or not influenced by seed density”
t0“Alfalfa”
Claim · model-written summary
Leaf to stem ratio was little influenced or not influenced by seed density.
- Taxon
- AlfalfaMedicago sativat0
- Treatment
- seed densitye0
- Outcome
- leaf to stem ratios (LSR)e0
- Direction
- little influenced or not influencede0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“CP and leaf to stem ratios (LSR) were either little influenced or not influenced by seed density”
t0“Alfalfa”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors suggest 8.75 kg ha−1 pure live seed is sufficient for adequate dry matter production.
- Taxon
- AlfalfaMedicago sativat0
- Outcome
- adequate DM productione0
- Value
- 8.75 kg ha−1e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“8.75 kg ha−1 of PLS could be sufficient to ensure adequate DM production”
t0“Alfalfa”
Claim · model-written summary
High seeding rates have little justification in sprinkler-irrigated Mediterranean climates with good establishment.
- Taxon
- AlfalfaMedicago sativat0
- Outcome
- little justification for high seeding ratese0
- Qualifier
- good establishment conditionse0
- Setting
- Mediterranean climatee0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“in a Mediterranean climate in which sprinkler irrigation is applied, there is little justification for high seeding rates under good establishment conditions”
t0“Alfalfa”
The same questions in other papers
density · growth · Medicago sativa (alfalfa)Positive and negative results
2 papers in the same direction as this paper · 14 in the opposite direction
- positive
- positive
- positive
13 papers more in this group
See all 17 papers →Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.