Influence of sowing dates and cutting intervals on growth and seed yield of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) cv. RL-88

INFLUENCE OF SOWING DATES AND CUTTING INTERVALS ON GROWTH AND SEED YIELD OF ALFALFA (MEDICAGO SATIVA L.) CV. RL-88
P. R. ARVIND KUMAR*, B. C. CHANNAKESHAVA, V. BELAVADI, M. K. SHIVPRAKASH AND R. SIDDARAJU
Ph. D. scholar, Department of Seed Science and Technology,
University of Agriculture Sciences, College of
Agriculture GKVK, Bengaluru-560 065 (Karnataka),
*(e-mail : arvindkrathod09@gmail.com)
(Received : 5 June 2017; Accepted : 8 September 2017)

SUMMARY

An experiment was carried out at the department of Seed Science and Technology (E-block) College of Agriculture, UAS, GKVK, Bengaluru to find out the optimum date of sowing and cutting interval in alfalfa. The results on growth parameters indicated that significantly highest plant height, forage yield (Fresh and dry forage yield) was recorded by 1st July sowing +no cutting over the cutting intervals followed. Similarly, the less number of days taken to flower initiation and days to 50 % flowering noticed in 15th August sown crop + cut followed at 60 DAS (D4C1). The number of vegetative and generative branches per plant also found maximum in D4C1. The number of seeds per pod (6.67), seed yield (1.49 g plant-1), seed yield (161.07 g plot-1) and seed yield (355.00 kg ha-1) recorded higher in crop sown at 15th August + cutting followed at 60 DAS were recorded over others sowing dates and cutting interval.

Key words: alfalfa, cutting intervals, vegetative and generative branches, dry matter

Forage Res. 43(2) 129-135