%0 Journal Article
%T Yield and Nutritive Values of Semi- and Non-Fall Dormant Alfalfa Cultivars under Late-Cutting Schedule in California’s Central Valley
%A Sultan Begna
%A Dan Putnam
%A Dong Wang
%A Khaled Bali
%A Longxi Yu
%J American Journal of Plant Sciences
%P 858-876
%@ 2158-2750
%D 2024
%I Scientific Research Publishing
%R 10.4236/ajps.2024.1510055
%X California is one of the major alfalfa (<i>Medicago</i> <i>sativa</i> L) forage-producing states in the U.S, but its production area has decreased significantly in the last couple of decades. Selection of cultivars with high yield and nutritive value under late-cutting schedule strategy may help identify cultivars that growers can use to maximize yield while maintaining area for sustainable alfalfa production, but there is little information on this strategy. A field study was conducted to determine cumulative dry matter (DM) and nutritive values of 20 semi- and non-fall dormant (FD) ratings (FD 7 and FD 8 - 10, respectively) cultivars under 35-day cut in California&#8217;s Central Valley in 2020-2022. Seasonal cumulative DM yields ranged from 6.8 in 2020 to 37.0 Mg&#183;ha<sup>&#8722;1</sup> in 2021. Four FD 8 - 9 cultivars were the highest yielding with 3-yrs avg. DM greater than the lowest yielding lines by 46%. FD 7 cultivar &#8220;715RR&#8221; produced the highest crude protein (CP: 240 g&#183;Kg<sup>&#8722;1</sup>) while FD 8 cultivar &#8220;HVX840RR&#8221; resulted in the highest neutral detergent fiber digestibility (NDFD: 484 g&#183;Kg<sup>&#8722;1</sup>, 7% greater than the top yielding cultivars) but with DM yield intermediate. Yields and NDFD correlated positively but weakly indicating some semi- and non-FD cultivars performing similarly. These results suggest that selecting high yielding cultivars under 35-day cutting schedule strategy can be used as a tool to help growers to maximize yield while achieving good quality forages for sustainable alfalfa production in California&#8217;s Central Valley.
%K Alfalfa
%K Maximizing Yield
%K Nutritive Value
%K Cultivar
%K Cutting Schedule
%K Production Area
%K California
%U http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=136667