INFLUENCE OF HARVESTING MANAGEMENT ON YIELD, CARBOHYDRATE RESERVES, ETIOLATED REGROWTH, AND POTASSIUM UTILIZATION OF ALFALFA

Abstract

Rhizoma, Narragansett, and DuPuits alfalfa were seeded alone and in mixture with Saratoga bromegrass and harvested for forage according to five managements: (1) 2 cut, 50% bloom, (2) 2 cut, 75–100% bloom, (3) 3 cut, 10% bloom (4) 4 cut pre-bud, and (5) pre-cut in May to delay maturity followed by 2 cut, 50% bloom. Managements 1 and 3 produced the most forage in the first harvest year and 1 and 2 the most in the second harvest year. Alfalfa root weights were highest for the 2 cut managements. Etiolated regrowth from alfalfa roots was highest for the 2 cut managements in the first year but did not vary significantly in the second harvest year. Total available carbohydrate content of the alfalfa roots followed a similar trend. In the first year K removal was higher with more frequent cutting of forage but in the second year was highest with the 2 cut management of forage. Frequent harvesting reduced forage production and percent total available carbohydrates in the roots.