Production and chemical composition of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L. cv Crioula) in function of the soil rate humidity - DOI: 10.4025/actasciagron.v25i1.2674

Abstract

The study was carried out from March 1997 to April 1998 aiming to evaluate the effect of water levels irrigation in the yield, in the distribution and chemical composition of alfalfa in field tests. The experimental design was totally randomized with four treatments: non-irrigated (T0), irrigated at 50%, 75% and 100% of the field capacity, considering 5 replications. In respect of the dry matter production, there was a significant difference (p < 0.05) between the water levels, irrigated and non-irrigated, and 100% of the field capacity. And there was also the effect of the year season (p < 0.05) with the summer yield being higher than the winter yield. The cuttings in different seasons of the year did not affect (p < 0.05) the crude protein (CP), the neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and the acid detergent fiber (ADF). Nevertheless, the irrigated alfalfa showed higher CP content (p < 0.05) and lesser NDF and ADF, throughout the year. The maximum forage yield and quality of alfalfa cv. Crioula was only possible using the irrigation in field capacity with irregular distribution during the year, in spite of the fact that irrigation elevates the forage production and improves the chemical composition in both seasons.