Effect of growth stage at cutting on yield and quality of lucerne cultivars from different dormancy groups in northern Victoria
1987
Slarke, R.H. | Mason, W.K. (Victorian Dept. of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Kyabram (Australia). Animal and Irrigated Pastures Research Inst.)
Cultivar responses or interactions between cultivar and growth stage at cutting were not significant for dry matter yield, crude protein or in vitro digestibility. Cutting of the pre-flower bud stage, compared with cutting at the 10 percent bloom stage, reduced DM yield by 18 percent (16.4 v. 13.5 t per ha), but increased crude protein content of the lucerne from 19.3 to 24 percent. The total protein yield per hectare was not affected by cutting stages from pre-flower bud stage to 10 percent bloom. Cutting lucerne at the flower bud stage rather than at 10 percent bloom gave increased protein content and digestibility with only a moderate yield decline. However, more frequent cutting was unsatisfactory as it decreased the density of the stand and increased the proportion of weeds.
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