STUDIES ON POTATO LEAFHOPPER (Empoasca fabae) DAMAGE IN ALFALFA

Abstract

Alfalfa dry matter production, plant height, protein content, and in vitro digestibility (IVD) were measured in first- and second-year plantings of six alfalfa cultivars grown under natural potato leafhopper infestation with and without methoxychlor treatment for control of the pests. All treated plots yielded more dry matter than the untreated check, except Angus in 1978. Plant height and protein content were higher and IVD was less in the treated plots. All cultivars were susceptible to leafhopper infestation; however, Angus was the least affected. Leafhopper injury was season-specific and damage carry-over from one season to another occurred but was less than from one cut to the next.