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CHARACTERESTECS {FF SEVERAL ALFALFA
VARIETiES WETH EMPHASE ON
WENTERHARDENESS

flush fer H10 Degree :5? M S.
MICHIGAN STATE COLLEGE
Durwcad ‘Wéifiam fisafiy
2954

This is to certify that the
thesis entitled
Ckmrrcteris‘cics of Several Alfalfa Varieties

vi til 31mm 51 s on ‘.."inter’;1:-.r€.in€ $5

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presented by

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has been accepted towards fulfillment
of the requirements for

M. So ' degree in F9173 CrO‘OS

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Major professor

 

 

0-169

 

 

CHLhLCTmfiISIICS OF SEVERAL LLFfiLFA VlRldTIAS
WITH.£MPdLSIS ON WINTERHLnDIHbSS

By

Durwood William Beatty

‘I—I‘

A THSSIS

Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies of Michigan
State College of Agriculture and [pplied Science
in partial fulfillment of the requirements
for the degree of

maria or SCIQNCE

Department of Farm CrOps

THFsme:

 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The author wishes to express his sincere
appreciation to Dr. S. T. Dexter for his guidance
in the outline of the experiment; to Dr. Dexter
and Dr. C. M. Harrison for their many helpful
suggestions in the preparation of the manuscript;
and to Professor H. M. Brown for assistance in
the statistical analyses in the problem.

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INTRODUCTION.....

hEVIEW OF LITERATURE.............

IQfiEfiIALS Uifl). ..... ................

COLT LiNT 8

Field Desimooott 0000000000 o 00000000000000000000000000000 .0

EXPELDLJITAL hpSULTS . . . . . . . . ........

Crop YieldS..... ...............

WinterhardineSS. ..............

Other Varietal Characteristics.

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CONCLUSIONS ...... .. ............ ....

LITERLTUKE CITED.......... ...... .....
LPPENQIX........... ........... ......

Description of Varieties.......

IthODUCTICN

Alfalfa.acreage in Michigan has averaged over 1,000,000 acres
for approximately twenty years. With more than half of the total hay
production being alfalfa this high quality forage has had a prominent
part in the agriculture of the state.

Today there are many varieties and strains of alfalfa and more
are being developed, particularly those which are resistant to
bacterial wilt, have a high degree of winterhardiness, resistance to
stem and leaf diseases, rapid recovery after cutting, and strong com-
petitive ability. Choice of an alfalfa variety is thus an important
factor for the most successful production.

The purpose of this study was to obtain information on several
alfalfa varieties when grown under Michigan conditions. Emphasis was

given to winterhardiness in relation to injury due to low temperatures.

hEVIEN OE LITERLTURE

The literature contains many theories on winterhardiness in re-
lation to low temperatures. Such theories are concerned with the
relationship between hardiness and structural characteristics, water
content of the plant, cell sap concentration, and such protoplasmic
factors as viscosity, hydrOphillic prOperties, and membrane perme-
ability. Harvey (ll) has compiled an extensive bibliOgraphy on winter-
hardiness and Levitt (12) has written a.comprehensive review of cold
relations in plants.

Craber 22 El- (9) found that susceptibility to winter injury is
increased by low percentages of dry matter and low concentrations of
food reserves in the roots at winter dormancy. Dexter (5) showed that
during the hardening process there occurs an accumulation of carbo-
hydrates and other reserve foods. Salmon.gt fl. (lb), Craber (10) and
Nelson (lb) reported that frequent cutting of alfalfa resulted in rapid
depletion of stand. Willard (20) found that cutting of alfalfa in Ohio
in late September or early October was more injurious than cutting on
November first when no exhaustive new growth could be initiated and
after all root growth was complete. Silkett at 21° (19) found that
plants cut in September yielded less hey the following year although
plants cut on normal dates and again during late October showed little
effect from this removal of tOp growth. Willard (20) observed that in

dry seasons frequent cutting did not exhaust the plots of alfalfa as it

does in normal seasons as the dry season favored storage of materials
in roots.

Work of Dexter gt El. (3) has indicated that injury from con-
trolled freezing experiments may be conveniently determined by measure-
ment of the degree of exosmosis of electrolytes. Dexter (h) and Megee
(13) found that the electrical conductivity method was useful in de-
termining susceptibility of plants to low temperatures and indicated
the rate of hardening of alfalfa plants. Electrical conductivity
determinations by hather and Dorrance (17) showed that alfalfa plants
cut or pastured in September were more susceptible to winter injury and
evidenced by field observations the following Spring.

Length of day is generally known to have profound effects on
vegetative and reproductive growth of many plants. In a study of
alfalfa seedlings under long and short days Oakley and westover (15)
found that varieties reacted to day length in accordance with their

regional adaptation.

1:,

M; Tnnllis U SED

Field Design

Field tests were conducted during the summer and fall of 1952 and
1953 on six varieties of alfalfa: Atlantic, hanger, Rhizome, Talent,
Hardigan and Narragansett. Complete descriptions of the varieties are
given in the appendix. The alfalfa was drilled in plots 1h by h8 feet
in a double linear block design on Conover clay soil in July 1951.
Varieties were replicated eight times with the exception of Narragansett
which appeared only twice due to a Small supply of seed.

A split plot design was used to give half of each plot a late fall
clipping to induce winter injury. hotes were taken on varietal character-
istics and yields were taken on areas 6 by 1h feet. Plots were cut
with a six foot mower from East to ibst and from West to East on each
plot. The alfalfa was left at the sides of the treatments as a source
of root samples which were dug each fall for winterhardiness tests.

In the fall of 1953 one year old roots from an additional set of

plots were obtained for testing.

 

In 1952 the plots were mowed May 25th to control weeds and no
yield was recorded. A second cutting was taken on Jugust l, 1952 with
a third taken on half of each plot on September 2hth to induce winter

injury. Yields are shown in Table I.

TLBLE I

ILFALFA YIELDS IN 1952 EXPHASSfiD IN AVnhAGE POUNDS OF GhdLN WEIGHT
PEN 6 bY lh FOOT PLOT

 

 

 

Second Third

Variety Cutting Cutting Total
Narragansett 9.6 9.9 19.5
Ltlantic 8.5 9.6 18.3
hardigan b.h 9.9 18.3
Ranger .8.3 8.9 17.2
Rhizome 7.9 8.7 6.6
Talent 6.6 8.2 1h.b

 

although Narragansett yielded the highest it appeared in only two
plots and both were situated in the better areas of the experiment.
However, Narragansett compared favorably with the other varieties in

nearby plots and can be considered with Atlantic, Hardigen, and Ranger.

o5

Rhizome yielded slightly lower than the others while Talent yielded
the least.

In 1953 two cuttings were taken. ipproximately 62 per cent of the
yield was recorded in the first cutting which was taken on the twenty-
sixth of June. Yield was averaged for plots cut in two directions to
be more comparable to harvest under farm conditions. Yields are shown
in Table II. Treatment was not significant. Talent yielded less than

other varieties and hanger less than Hardigan at the one per cent level.

TABLE II

. ALFLLFA YIELDS IN 1953 EXPnuSSED IN lvuaics YIELD Pan
6 x 1h FT. PLOT on A churn WEIGHT BASIS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not Clipped September Clipped Total
Variety Direction of Cutting Direction of Cutting Iverage
L4H W—d iv. new W-n 1v.

Ranger L9.2 39.5 hh.h hh.2 hl.9 h3.0 h3.7
Talent h2.l 33.7 37.9 39.6 33.9 36.7 37.3
Atlantic 52.8 h0.h h6.6’ b7.7 h1.C hh.7 LS.6
Hardigan 5h.6 b1.3 h8.2 h9.7 h3.b h6.5 h7.3
hhizoma. . 52.5 h0.1 No.3 b9.5 bl.8 b5.6 b3.9
Narragansett 52.5 h1.2 h6.8 51.3 h3.l h7.2 h7.0

 

a Cnly two replications, not included in analysis of variance.
L.S.D. between varieties: 5n = 2.h, 1% = 3.3.

TABLE III

LNLLYSIS OF VAhIlNCE ON YIELD OF HLY FOR 1953

 

 

 

 

Source Dr SS is F ___
Total 79 1,875.? 23 7 1
Variety h 98b.3 2&6.5 1? 7 A
Replication 7 230.9 32 9
v x h = d1 28 350.5 12.5
Treatment 1 20.3 20.3 2.5
V x T h 6.6 1.6
Remainder = E3#_ 35 281.1 6.0

*% Significant at the one per cent level.

Seed Yield

 

L portion of the first cutting of 1953 was left for seed production.
Strips three feet wide were cut through each plot and the harvested
material threshed for seed. Seed set was extremely poor, the best yield
approximating only about seven pounds per acre. Yields were higher from

the plants clipped the previous September than from the plants unclipped.

TIBLE IV

AVAhAGE YInLD OF San Pan 3 x 1h FOOT PLOT IN Chins

 

 

 

Variety Clipped Not Clipped
ller‘digan 3 .16; 1 .55
hanger 3.11 .93
Narragansett 5.h 2.97
Talent .93 ‘.57
Atlantic 1.2h .ol
hhizoma 2 .31 2 .02

 

Winterhardiness

The procedure of Dexter gt 21. (h) was used for the winterhardiness
tests. Plant roots approximately six inches long were dug at random from
five plots. After being washed and rinsed in distilled water the roots
were placed in cheesecloth to remove the surface water. The roots were
then cut into one-half to three-quarter inch pieces and mixed thoroughly.
Triplicate ten gram samples were Weighed out and frozen for four hours

in six-inch Pyrex test tubes placed in an alcohol-ice slush maintained

O o v-‘o . n 1
at -7 Centigrade. fifty millimeters of water was added to each sample
after removal from the freezer. The samples were then placed in a

. . ,o . .
water bath held at 2 Centigrade for twenty hours to allow exosmOSIs of
the electrolytes from the roots.

Resistance readings of the water extract were taken by means of a
" u . l ‘ —6
dhetstone bridge and recorded as rebiprocal Ohms x 10 (mhos) per gram
of root weight. Following these readings the roots and extracts were

1 0 . _
heated to 90 Centigrade to make the membranes fully permeable, and

. o . . .

then held at 2 Centigrade for another twenty hours when the amount of

total electrolytes was determined as above.

1952 Results

 

As shown in Tables V and VI, roots from the plants clipped in 1952
were more hardened in October than those from plants not clipped. The
fall season was extremely dry with only 2.h7 inches of rain during
September and October. Plants which had been clipped made very little
regrowth due to the dry conditions. This type of season was apparently
more like western Conditions where stands of alfalfa can be cut more
frequently with less injury to stands as climate tends to prevent the
exhaustion of root reserves. Some lowering of the food reserve did
occur however as the roots from the clipped plants were slightly lower
in dry matter as shown in Table VII.

The periods of dehardening as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 were
preceded by rainfall the week before the samples were taken. In November

they were preceded by rainfall plus above average temperatures.

EL ECTrOLYth, I;

WEIOHI',

TLNES CE EQUIPnOC1L OMMS x IO-
3 I‘OLLOJIN‘G I‘ItuJJZIi.G 1T

TABLE V

(:1 LC1111'1'C 1 01‘ 1111‘!- 1.L11 ROD
nuns PhOM PLANT

:70 Cut 1 .1. WORD“: .

6 -
PAH

NOT CLIPPAD

‘hIM OF hCOT

 

 

Date of Sampling

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Variety October November December
22 29 5 12 19 26 3 10
Hanger 2h.3 16 .3 13.1 9.1 9.9 12.9 9.h 11.0
Narragansett 25.6 C. 2 1h. 7 10.5 12.6 lh.6 7.6 10.0
Rhizome 27.1 1C.2 19.1 13.3 8.5 15 .3 7.7 11.6
nardigan 10.0 10.5 1). O 11.1 8.0 1h.2 7.5 10.3
1-tlantic 22.3 lb .5 19. h 13.2 11.9 16.2 8.5 12.6
Talent 31.2 3o.c 26.6 21.1 lh.§ 2h.o 5.0 16.0
Average 25.0 20.0 15.1 13.0 11.0 16.8 9.3 12.2
TioLE VI
ELECTROLYTES, IN TNnMS OF nsCIPROCAL OHNS x 10'6 Phh GRAN 0F ROOT
UIdIOHT, 0F LX1fi1C 0F LLFILFA nOOTS FOLLOWING FRELZING 1T
-7OCLN1‘ICRADd. hOOTS FROM PLOTS CLIPPdD IN SEPTELJEM 1952
Date of Sampling
Variety October November
22 29 5 12 19 26

hanger 11.5 10.7 11.1 10.9 13.1 l3.6
Narragansett 12.3 11.6 11.9 10.9 lh.l 13.6
Rhizome 12.9 12.h lh.0 13.2 15.3 lb. 7
Herdigen 16.3 1h.3 10.2 9.1 11.7 15. 6
Atlantic 22.5 lh.b 10.6 12.7 13.9 lb. 6
Talent 23.5 19.2 19.6 20.3 26.6 21.8
Average 16.5 13.8 12.9 12.9 15.b 15.6

 

10

TABLE VII

Pmfi CiNT DRY M1TTL1 IN ROOTS DUG IN THE FiLL OF 1952
LVNRAGM OF ALL SIX VLEIETIES

 

 

 

Sampling Plants Not Plants Clipped
Date Clipped in September

October 22 h1.l 37.2
October 29 h2.5 37.1
November 5 h2.7 36.7
November 12 h0.8. 35.5
November 19 36.6‘ 33.2
November 26 35.7 33.6
December 3 37.05

December 10 35.7

 

* Averages of five varieties.

hoots from the plots which received the clipping treatment seemed to de-
harden to a lesser extent from the moisture and temperature fluctuations.
Due to adverse weather conditions roots from the plots clipped were not
harvested in December. Talent showed the least amount of hardening of
the unclipped plants on all dates and by December 10th had hardened only
to the extent that the other varieties had hardened in late October.
Rhizoma showed a sixty per cent decrease in electrolyte liberation from
October 22nd to December 10th, while Ltlantic and Talent decreased only
b3 and 38 per cent reSpectively. By December 10th Narragansett was in
the most hardened condition followed in order by Ranger, Rhizome,
atlantic, and Talent. Narragansett, Hardigan, and Ranger appeared to

deharden slower than [tlantic and hhizoma.

Specific Conductivity

35-

3O-

25‘

20 ‘

15..

10‘-

 

ll

 

 

F I

22 29
October

Figure l. Curves presenting
rate of hardening

12

November

fall clipped in 1952.

1.2““

Atlantic
Ranger

HnrA4—efi

Key

hh

December

data of Table V in graphic form showing
of alfalfa roots from the plants not

fihizoma.
Talent

harrongncoff

Specific Conductivity

30 J

12

 

 

 

r I I I I I
22 29 5 l2 19 26
October November

Figure 2. Curves presenting data of Table VI in graphic form showing
rate of hardening of alfalfa roots from the plants fall
clipped in 1952.

Key
- rtlantic Rh hhizoma
hanger T Talent

Harri-Ican N = n-sr‘renancn-r-t-

31‘
I

R

H

Total extractable salts are shown in Tables VIII and IX. filthough
variable they did not change the relationships of the various varieties
or treatments to an" great extent. The decrease in conductivity closely
resembles Dexter's similar findings with winter wheat (6) and suggests

Gorke's theory of winter hardening {5).

Results for 1953

 

In 1953 the varieties arain received the same treatments offall
clipping and no fall clipping. The fall was exceptionally dry with 3.67
inches of rain for September, October and November compared with alnean
rainfall of 7.63 inches during this period. 18 a result the clippings
were short and no yields were taken. Temperatures during October,
November, and December were below normal.

healthy roots of wilt susceptible varieties were hard to obtain.
Root samples were tested on November 3rd and December 10th. In the test
on November 3rd on the unclipped plants, Narragansett was the most hardened
with Hardigan, Itlantic, and Talent intermediate, and Ranger and Rhizoma
least hardened. Results are shown in Table X. By December Narragansett
was most hardened with Ranger, Hardigan, Rhizoma, Talent, and Atlantic
following in that order. The Talent stand had been thinned the most by
winter killing the two previous winters and the remaining roots were
large and healthy when compared with the others. Wbrking with two year
old alfalfa.plants, Peltier and Tysdal (l6) concluded that natural
selection enhanced chances for survival which served to explain the rela-’
tively better hardiness of Talent compared to its hardiness the previous

year.

111

TABLE VIII

_ _ _ A -6 7
TOTAL ELDCTROLYI‘ES, In T1013 01‘ 1118113110011 0.11.215 x 10 P211 11mm 01‘ 1.001
WIGHT, 01‘ LLFILFI. 11001 1:11";ch FOLLOWING KILLING 1T 900 c.
Roars F1011 PLOTS GIVIN NO CLIPPING '1'11111'1‘1111wr IN 1952

 

 

 

 

 

Variety October November December

22 29 5 12 19 26 3 10

Ranger 53.6 b6.5 h5.l bh.7 No.3 h2.9 Ll.l No.1
Narragansett 50.5 b6.9 L5.h b3.7 h3.3 h3.8 38.6 39.0
Rhizome Sb.h h7.l b9.b h5.2 01.1 b3.3 39.9 38.7
Hardigan 52.1 50.h b6.3 h5.5 LO.9 h3.6 h1.8 h2.6
Atlantic 51.1 b7.2 b7.0 16.6 bO.S hb.b hl.7 h2.9
Talent 55.2 50.6 h7.2 h8.b b0.3 h3.5 h2.l 38.5
Iverage 53.8 DC.3 h7.3 h5.6 hl.0 h3.6 h0.5 h0.h

TABLE IX

TOTAL momomas, IN Lamas 01' RmIPROCIL mas x 10‘6 P1121 0111811 or we
11.510111, 01* LLFIIEI 1001‘ Imam gone-111.0 KILLING 1T 90 0.
1.0013 mow mums CLIPPIflD IN ILL. r111 01' 1952

 

 

 

 

Variety October Lovember

22 29 S 12 19 2O

hanger h3.7 h3.9 b3.9 h0.7 h3.b L3.9
Narragansett bl.b hh.5 h6.3 h3.5 b3.7 h3.7
Rhizome b5.b h8.6 h3.2 h5.3 h2.7 h2.7
hardigan h5.9 h5.8 h3.5 L0.l 39.t h3.C
Atlantic 53.8 bh.5 h1.6 bh.l 39.h b2.1
Talent 5h.7 h5.2 52.2 Lh.7 b7.9 h8.5
h7.h b5.9 h5.l h3.0 h2.8 hh.l

Iverage

 

1* I ’. 1' F1 ’“J u ‘ 7" ‘-—1 '. u" , “"-~’-‘ -6 ‘ 1'. - "1 . \
shall-$111135, In 'IALU‘ib Ur IL£L1P£‘LOC:.L 021m x 10 Pm mull} Or rtQOl‘
WEIGHT, or bXTnLCT or ALrLLFA ROOTS FOLLOWING thJLIhG LI
-70 Cfihlldnxflm. floors tiarau IN 1953

 

 

 

 

 

 

Variety not Clipped Fall Clipped 1932 and 19F3
hovemoer December hOVembeF December
3 10 3 10
tarragansett lh.b d,2 25,0 9,7
Hard'gan 20,9 10.5 31.1 ---
Atlantic 22.2 lu.0 2t.t ---
Talent 22.5 12,7 35,3 25.h
Ranger 29.3 9.0 21.3 11.1
Rhizome 33.6 11.6 2h.0 10.3
Average 23.6 11.0 27.6 lh.l

 

Of the plots clipped in September of 1952 and 1953 hanger was the
most hardened on November 3rd with Rhizome, Narragansett, Ltlantic,
hardigan, and Talent following in that order. The Talent which had been
clipped did not harden much in comparison with the Talent which had not
been fall clipped indicating more injury from clipping for two years
despite the dry fall weather. It was not possible to obtain a sufficient
number of healthy roots for testing Atlantic and Hardigan on December
10th. Roots from the plants clipped were lower in dry matter than the

roots from the unclipped plants.

deitional 1953 Tests

 

During the fall of 1953 one xear old roots of the six varieties used

in the previous tests plus Buffalo and DuPuits were obtained from an

16

additional set of plots which had been out twice for hay in 1953. do
fall clipping treatment was involved.

harragansett was in the most hardened condition in november follow—
ed by Ranger, hhizoma, Ltlantic, hardigan, Talent, and DuPuits. With
the exception of Hardigan and buffalo very little hardening had taken
place in the varieties between the two dates. hesults are shown in

Table XI.

TndLE XI

ELnCThOLYl‘ES Pm tag». 05‘ n00" wEId—zr , mom EXTmXCT OF on: we OLD
LIELLFL moors mom}: TO -70 Cnhl‘ldfiADn‘. IN Tit: FALL 05‘ 1953

 

 

Date of Sampling

 

 

 

Variety hovember December

11 11
harragansett lh.7 21.6
Ranger 16.5 22.3
hhizoma 17.3 16,1
itlantic 16.5 17.7
Hardigan 20.6 13.5
Buffalo 23.9 17.1
Talent 25.9 26.9
DuPuitS 29.6 25.5
Lverage 21.2 20,7

 

Other Varietal Characteristics

Silage Qualitjr

 

fit the time of the first cutting in 1953 silage samples were taken
from the six-variety test. The samples were chOpped into one to one and

one-half inch pieces with a paper cutter and triplicate five hundred

17

gram samples were packed into one quart hason jars and later tested
for pH at three levels in each jar. None of the silage produced bad

odors and results in Table XII show no consistent differences.

TABLE XII

pd nnLDINUS anon SLHPLES TJKLN LT Thumb LanLS anon QUIET JnnS OF SILLGS
APPrOXInnTELY FOUn ANJ n han “ONTHS AFT:R,HLLVEST

 

 

 

Variety neplication Top Middle Bottom
Ranger 1 b.50 b.96 h.€5
2 5.16 5.0b 5.22

3 5.h7 5.70 5.5h

harragansett 1 5.10 5,33 5.38
2 5.b2 5.50 5.h3

3 5.16 5.58 5.h3

hardigan l b.95 5.60 b.95
2 5.38 5.11 5.21

3 5.h6 5.53 5.30

Talent 1 5.89 5.62 5.53
2 b.68 5.10 b.6o

3 5.13 5.13 5.16

Ltlantic l 5.Lo 5.60 5.99
2 5.09 5.79 5.79

3 5.06 5.22 5.03

nhizoma l b.98 b.66 h.b6
2 5.21 5.31 5.h9

3 5.30 5.17 5.hl

 

Foliage color as affected by leafhgpper.

Foliage Color

 

 

The first cutting of

1952 was made early to control an infestation of downy brome grass and

yield was not recorded. The following growth was attacked by leathp-
pers eSpecially along the south side next to plots of sugar beets.
All varieties showed yellowing for approximately seven feet into the
plots. However, beyond that point certain varieties stood out in marked
contrast to the others. dy July 20th, hardigan and hhizoma were still
dark green and Narragansett showed only slight yellowing. Ltlantic,
hanger, and Talent were increasingly yellow in that order.
The second cutting was made on Iugust first and by September the
following color ratings were made:
Talent and Ranger - very yellow
jtlantic - moderately yellow
Larragansett - slightly yellow
hardigan and Rhizome - very little yellowing
In 1953 each plot was given a color rating of one to ten with ten
being dark green. averages of these ratings are given in Table XIII.

harragansett, Hardigan, and Rhizome seemed definitely superior to the

other varieties in relation to damage by leathpper.

TABLE XIII

FOLIAGE coma RITINGS row Jams 21 AND 1.110113? 1, 1953,
wIl‘H TEN nirktESENTING 0;.th nasal;

 

 

 

Variety June 21 August 1
Narragansett 5.7 7.5
Rhizome 8.2 7.3
hardigan 7.6 8.3
Atlantic 6.7 6.2
Ranger 6.3 6.7
Talent 5.6 6.0

 

l9

Foliage color as affected by fall frosts, The first killing fall

 

frosts in 1952 occurred during the first week of October. The Talent
foliage was killed, with the exception of the young crown shoots, and
appeared very light in color with some leaves falling. Ranger foliage
was also killed. Hardigan and .tlantic were damaged but showed some

green color. hhizoma and Narragansett were still quite green and did

not appear to be very damaged.

Bloom

 

Following the first cutting of 1952, removed before blossoming for
weed control, Talent produced the greatest amount of bloom with hanger
second. hardigan, Narragansett, Atlantic, and hhizoma followed in that
order.

In 1953 Rhizome was the first to bloom with the purple flowers
appearing to bloom first, early in June. Narragansett, hardigan, and
Atlantic followed in that order. By June 1hth all varieties were in
bloom and the varieties were rated one to ten for bloom with ten being
the greatest amount of bloom. Ratings were also given on June 22nd

previous to harvest of the first cutting.

TIBLE XIV

hLLATIVE AMOUNT F BLOOM OF ALFILFL VLhIETInS IN 1953 WITH TEN
REPRJSLNTING THE GREATEST AMOUNT OF bLOFL

 

 

Date of Bloom Rating
Variety» dune 1H June 22

harragansett 6 O
hhiz om a L! O
hardigan 3.5
Ltlantic 2 3
Ranger 1 b
Talent 1 b

Wilt
The soil in which the plots were located was known to be heavily
infested with bacterial wilt. During the second harvest year wilt
Symptoms began appearing in the plots, but not consistently in all plots
of one variety.
Talent and Hardigan showed the most symptoms while Rhizoma was
intermediate and Jtlantic showed slight symptoms. By fall Talent showed

the most wilt infected plants. nardigan, Rhizoma.and Itlantic were next

in order while Ranger showed few symptoms and Narragansett showed none.

Lodging

Following the first cutting of 1953 observations were made on the
aftermath left after cutting to determine the amount of lodging. hhizoma
and Narragansett showed the greatest amount of lodging when out East to
'West, while the other varieties showed very little. When out west to
East Hhizoma.again showed the most lodging with Atlantic slightly more

lodged than the remaining varieties.

hecovery After Cutting

 

Talent exhibited extremely vigorous recovery after cutting.
Ltlantic was somewhat quicker to recover than Ranger but both recovered
faster than Hardigan and Narragansett. Narragansett recovered slightly

slower than Hardigan, while Rhizome had very slow recovery.

Response to Photoperiod

 

In the fall of 1953 eight varieties of alfalfa were planted in the

greenhouse in six inch clay pots filled with sand. They were watered

daily and given nutrient solution weekly. after the first true leaves
appeared they were thinned to four plants per pot and given phot0periods
of eight and twelve hours. The cultures replicated five times were
placed under fluorescent lighting to extend the normal daylight period.
At the end of eight weeks the plants were harvested by washing the
sand from the roots. Green weights were recorded for t0p growth and

total plant growth of ten representative plants and are shown in Table XV.

TIBLL XV

Gains OF TUILL unanN WEIGHT OF‘TEN ILFILFL PLANTS GIVEN Lowe (LD)
IND saonT (SD) PHOTOPEnIODS

 

 

 

 

 

Variety T0p Growth Total Plant Growth

LU SD LD SD
Buffalo b.h6 2.31 6.19 3.61
Talent h.hh 3.31 5.97 b.61
Narragansett 3.76 2.96 5.22 h.15
Itlantic 3.66 3.26 h.t7 h.57
DuPuits 3 .b 3.110 11.67 L68
hanger 3.22 3.01 b.75 b.b0
hhizoma 3.15 2.59 h.76 3.60
Hardiaan 3.00 2.35 h.hh 3.h9
Sevelra 2.21 2.01 2.t5 2.t

 

All varieties except DuPuits gave more top growth on long days.
The more vigorous varieties tended to produce a higher yield under
either phot0period.

Six plants of each variety and treatment were photographed and are
shown in Figure 3. All plants showed more elongation when grown under

long day conditions. Narragansett, Buffalo, DuPuits, :tlantic, and

Llfalfa plants given short (left)
and long (right; phot0periods.

Varieties are:

. narragansett
hardigan
Talent
Rhizome
buffalo

guru) “DH
0

6. DuFuits
7. Atlantic
&. hanger

9. Sevelra

Scale = one-third actual size.

 

23

Ranger appeared to be the most elongated under long day conditions.
Rhizoma and Sevelra were only slightly taller on long days.’
Temperatures in the greenhouse were not controlled and often were
higher than the temperatures used by Oakley and Westover (15) which may
explain why the seedlings did not separate so completely into categories
such as they observed. Temperature relations are closely related to

the behavior of plants to phot0periods.

Seed Weight and Germination

 

Eight replicates of one hundred seeds were counted out from twenty
different varieties or sources of seed and the weights recorded in
milligrams per one hundred seeds. There was considerable variability.
Buffalo seed was the largest and would amount to about 191,000 seeds
per pound. homad was much smaller and would approach 2h9,000 seeds per
pound.

Lfter weighing, the seeds were dusted with Lrasan and planted in
sand one hundred per row in wooden flats in the greenhouse. Stand counts
were made one week after they were planted. California Common seedlings
were noticeably taller than all others. Talent, Itlantic, and Buffalo
were slightly more vigorous than the other seedlings. Nomad, Utah Common,
Sevelra, hanger 7 and the Ladaks were the slowest in growth. Seedling

height was again estimated 22 days after planting. California Common,l

 

1 Several samples of the seed were grown in California at the various
locations and altitudes listed below. Some of the samples were not 1952
seed and are also listed.
Certified hanger h, Tehachapi, California, elevation 3950 feet.
Certified Ranger l2, hnza, California, elevation h,OOO feet.
Certified Atlantic, Tehachapi, California, elevation 3958 feet.
(continued)

2h

TABLE XVI

14451 "HT I'm MILLIQ‘LJIS left 013:; EiUIIDhrSD 51515138 {1‘33 PEEL Cdl‘IT dead-111311101}
jFTaR one deK. (fVfihlGE OF EIGnT hEPLIClTIOBS)

 

 

 

rverage Per Cent
Variety weigh Germination

Buffalo 237 76,
Atlantic 22 55*
Talent 220 77
hanger b 215 83

Narragansett 212 88
Ranger 12 210 C6
hanger 6 210 9h
DuPuits 209 h3

hanger 2 207 81
Ladak 206 62

California.Common 20h 91
Ladak 201 71
hhiz om a 193;? 62

Grimm 195 71
hardigan ' 188 63
Cossack 157 8

Nomad 182 61
Utah Common 161 h?
hanger Nebr. 176 67

Sevelra 172 53

 

& average of seven replicates.

DuPuits, Talent, and Buffalo were the most vigorous as shown in Table
XVII. Nomad, Sevelra, Utah Common, Ladak, and Hardigan were the slowest

growing.

 

(Footnote 1 continued)
California Common, Antelope Valley, elevation 2¢oo feet.
Buffalo, California grown.

manger 6, California Certified, 1951 seed.
Ranger 2, California Certifiei, 1950 seed.

Ranger 7, Nebraska.Certified, 19h; seed.

TLBLj 'VII

SSEDLING thGHT OE PLLNTS GHOHN IN SLND WITH NOnMLL DLY LANGTH
HmIGHTd LQLSUMLD 22 DLIS nFTmn PLLNTIHG In heLhTIVE
VLLth Ode T0 The, VITH Ted dthG-Id; TILLESI

 

 

 

Variety height
California Common 7.5
DuPuits 7.5
Talent 7.h
liuffalo 7.1
Ranger 2 6.6
Narragansett 6.6
Atlantic 6.7
hanjer 6 6.5
Ranger h 6.5
hanger l2 6.h
Cossack 6.h
Grinml 6.h
Hanger nebrasha 6.2
Rhizome 6 .2
Ladak Idaho 6.1
H ardigan 5 .8
Ladak 5.6
UtalCommon 5.h
Sevelra, 5.3
nomad 5.1

 

mate of Germination

 

Four replicates of one hundred seeds each were placed in a germina-

[\3

tor at '60 C. and daily counts were made of the number of seeds Sprout-
ing and beginning to grow. In general considerable variability existed
in the rate of germination as shown in Table XVIII. The danger alfalfas,
California Common, Talent, and Ltlantic (California) contained relatively
few hard seeds as compared with Nomad, Hardigan, Rhizome, Vernal, Ladak,

and Grimm. The latter varieties were also slower to germinate.

TLdLE XVIII

26

RhTE or GEnKINhTION rS SHOWN dI aunaea OE SjaDS hLMCVED FROA THE
dedIhhTION BLUTTEd AT The FIRST SIGNS OF SPhOUTInG

(sagas thOVaD 0N DLTE INDICdeD)

 

 

number of Days ifter Seeds

 

 

Variety Placed in Germinator Hard Total
2 3 h 5 5 Seed Germination

Ranger 12 35 51 8 2 1 2 96
hanger h M9 3h 7 l 1 5 92
hanger 2 AS 39 6 1 1 - 92
hanger 6 30 D5 16 1 - 1 92
California Common 30 L7 17 1 2 3 96
Talent 32 36 6 1 1 1 75
Sevelra 22 25 9 2 2 1 59
Atlantic 19 39 11 3 2 - 72
Narragansett 20 h5 22 6 3 1 95
hanger 7 1h L1 7 3 1 l 66
DuPuits 17 as 26 3 3 3 9
Buffalo 16 MO 22 3 1 5 63
Cossack 6 26 13 h 2 5 52
Ladak, Idaho 27 h6 6 h 3 7 67
Grimm 10 3h 19 3 2 10 67
Ladak 11 36 9 2 3 11 60
Utah Common 6 2 17 h 7 h 60
Vernal 9 hh 15 ll 1 1h 79
Rhizome, h 20 23 5 e 17 57
hardigan 9 3h 19 3 6 21 70
Nomad 2 17 28 5 5 29 56

27

Sullhitf

Several alfalfa varieties were h rvested for hay yield during the
summers of 1952 and 1953. Observations were made on varietal character-
istics such as lodging, bloom, foliage color, wilt and recovery after
cutting. In 1953 silage samples were made from the various varieties
and tested for pH. Each fall root samples were tested for degree of
winter hardening by means of controlled freezing experiments in the
laboratory.

The reSponse of alfalfa seedlings to phot0periodic treatments was
studied in the greenhouse.

arious lots of seed were studied with reapect to size and rate of

germination.

CD
0

CONCLUSIOmS

September clipping in the fall of 1952 did not reduce total hay
yields the following year.

September clipping for two seasons lowered the per cent dry matter
in the roots and caused root injury.

All varieties showed considerable root injury at the end of the
second harvest year due to winter injury or wilt.

Talent appeared to be inferior to other varieties in.hichigan be-
cause of poor winterhardiness and susceptibility to wilt and leaf-
hopper attackS.

Electrical conductivity determinations for winterhardiness were more
reliable when used in a series of dates with only healthy roots than
when used on older diseased roots.

Temperature and moisture were important in relation to hardening of
alfalfa plants.

Seed size and germination of samples from various locations varied
considerably.

Llfalfa plants varied in reSponse to photoperiod giving more growth

on long days.

10.

ll.

12.

13.

29

LI‘i‘Eh‘EJI' U RE C IT ED

Lamodt, 0. 5., Rambling alfalfas, new hOpe for dryland pastures.
Crops and Soils 5: 7—10. 1952.

CrOp varieties recommended for Ohio in 195h. Ohio Farm and Home
Research 39: do. 266. l95h.

Dexter, S. T., Tottingham, w. E., and Graber, L. F., Preliminary
results in measuring the hardiness of plants. Plant Phys.
5: 215-223. 1930.

, , , Investigations of the hardiness of
plants by measurement of electrical conductivity. Plant Phys.

7: 63-78. 1932.

 

 

, Effect of several environmental factors on the hardening

of plants. Plant Phys. 6: 123-139. 1933.

, Salt concentration and reversibility of ice formation as
related to the hardiness of winter wheat. Plant Phys. 9: 601-616.
193h.

, What alfalfa variety for Michigan? hich. Agr. Exp. Sta.

”war. Bul. 31: no. u, 395-2401. 19w.

Gorke, H., Uber chemische Vorgange beim Erfrieren der Pflanzen.
Landw. Vers.-Sta. 65: 1h9-160. 1906.

Graber, L. F., helson, h. T., Leukel, N. L., and ilbert, W. 8.,
Organic food reserves in relation to the growth of alfalfa and
other perennial heroacious plants. Wisc. hgr. exp. Sta. Res. Bul.
60. 1927.

, A half century of alfalfa in Wisconsin. Wisc. Agr. Exp.
Sta. Bul. 502. 1953.

Harvey, R. B., jnnotated Bibliography of Low Temperature Relations
of Plants. Burgess Publishing Co., Minneapolis. 1935.

Levitt, J., Frost Killing and Hardiness of Plants, A Critical
Review. Burgess Publishing Co., Minneapolis. l9hl.

hegee, C. R., A search for factors determining winterhardiness in
alfalfa. dour. 1m. Soc. Lgron. 27: 665-696. 1935.

17.

16.

19.

20.

21.

30

Nelson, N. T., The effects of frequent cutting on the production,
root reserves, and behavior of alfalfa. Jour. Em. Soc. Lgron.
17: 100-113. 1925.

Oakley, R. L., and Vestover, H. L., Effects of the length of day
on seedlings of alfalfa.varieties and possibilities of utilizing
this as a means of identification. dour. Agr. Res. 21: 599-606.
1921.

Peltier, G. L., and Tysdal, H. h., Hardiness studies with two year
old alfalfa plants. Jour. Lgr. Res. D3: 931—955. 1935.

hather, H. C., and Dorrance, A. 8., A study of the time of pastur-
ing alfalfa. Jour. Am. Soc. Lgron. 30: 130-135. 1938.

Salmon, 8. C., Swanson, C. 0., and.thampbell, C. W}, Experiments
relating to the time of cutting of alfalfa. Kan. fgr. Exp. Sta.
Tech. Bul. 15: 9—25. 1925.

Silkett, V. W., hegee, C. R., and Rather, H. C., The effect of late
summer and early fall clipping on crown bud formation and winter-
hardiness of alfalfa. Jour. Am. Soc. Lgron. 29: 53-62. 1937.

Willard, C. J., Thatcher, L. E., and Cutler, J. S., Alfalfa in
Ohio. Ohio figr. Exp. Sta. Bul. 5h0. 193b,

Wilsie, C. P., ilfalfa varieties for Iowa. Iowa Agr. Exp. Sta.
Bul. P111. 1951.

31

APPBNDIX

Description of Varieties

hardiean
Hardigan alfalfa is a selection from Baltic made at Michigan State
College. Flowers are variegated but largely purple in color. The
plants are uniform, blossom freely, and are reported to produce exception-
ally good seed yields when conditions are favorable. he leaf color is
dark green and the variety is fairly resistant to leaf diseases and
leathpper yellowing. Recovery after cutting is medium. although very

winterhardy it is susceptible to bacterial wilt.

Narragansett

 

Narragansett was develOped at Rhode Island through mass selection
from several strains of yellow blossomed alfalfa and from variegated
stocks such as Grimm, hardigan, Cossack, and Ladak. It has more varie-
gation than Hardigan or Ranger, and dark green foliage and is about
equal to Hardigan with reSpect to leaf diseases and winterhardiness, but

seems less susceptible to bacterial wilt.

Rhizome.
Rhizome was developed at the University of British Columbia from a
cross between a yellow flowered alfalfa and Grimm. It exhibits a high

proportion of yellow flowers and a decumbent type of growth with a low

32

Spreading crown. The foliage is dark green. It is susceptible to
bacterial wilt and in Wisconsin (6) and.Michigan stands are thinned

in short order. It is winterhardy and recovers slowly after cutting.

Itlantic
This variety is composed of selections from many different strains.
It was develOped at New Jersey for high forage yield. The flowers show
some variegation and the plant type is variable. It is fairly winter-
hardy but susceptible to bacterial wilt, leadhOpper yellowing and leaf

diseases.

Iiarlgez‘

Ranger is a multiple strain variety developed at the University of
hebraska.from wilt resistant selections of Cossack, Turkestan, and
Ladak. It exhibits variability in plant growth. thhough wilt re-
sistant it does not produce more forage in Iowa (20), Michigan (7),
Ohio (2), than the other tested varieties unless the stand of such

varieties was reduced by wilt.

Talent
Talent alfalfa was devalOped by the Oregon lgricultural Station
from seed obtained from Provence, France. For twenty years it has under-
gone natural selection in Oregon. There it is a high yielding variety
which recovers quickly after cutting and grows late in the fall. Flower
color is light blue to reddish purple and can be classified as a common

alfalfa. It is susceptible to injury by leadhOppers and to bacterial

 

33

wilt. ‘Winterhardiness has not been fully determined but in the field

here seems poor.

Buffalo
Buffalo is a selection from Kansas Common. It is resistant to

bacterial wilt and not guite as winterhardy as Hardigan.

Sevelra
iSevelra is the result of crossing between strains of Siberian alfalfa
and other alfalfa and subsequent natural selection in Idaho for over forty

years (1).

DuPuits

DuPuits is a vigorous type of alfalfa from France.

 

 

‘ Mmméfi

(27.1
‘

 

 

        

.

 

 

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