Crop Science Journal of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Education
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Published online 19 March 2008
Published in Crop Sci 48:794-803 (2008)
© 2008 Crop Science Society of America
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Effects of Between-Row and Within-Row Spacing on Alfalfa Seed Yields

Tiejun Zhanga, Xianguo Wanga, Jianguo Hana,*, Yunwen Wanga, Peisheng Maoa and Mark Majerusb

a Institute of Grassland Science, China Agricultural Univ., Beijing 100094, P.R. China
b USDA Plant Materials Center, 99 South River Rd., Bridger, MT 59014, USA. Financial support was given by the Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Science and Technology under the project of forage seed production research (2006BAD16B02, 2006BAD04A04)

* Corresponding author (jianguohan2058{at}126.com).

Proper between-row and within-row spacing is essential for optimizing alfalfa seed yields and stand longevity. Using three alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) cultivars (WL232HQ, Derby, and Algonquin), we conducted a field study from 2004 to 2007 to evaluate the effects of three between-row spacing treatments (60, 80, and 100 cm) and four within-row spacing treatments (15, 30, 45, and 60 cm) on seed yield, seed yield components, plant height, basal stem diameter, and lodging. Our hypothesis was that the intermediate between-row and within-row spacing would gradually improve seed yields in later years. The highest seed yields were obtained with 60-cm between-row spacing and 15-cm within-row spacing in 2004, but with 80-cm between-row spacing and 30-cm within-row spacing in 2006 and 2007. The significant year x between-row spacing and year x within-row spacing interactions for seed yield indicated that 80-cm between-row spacing and 30-cm within-row spacing produced the best seed yields as years advanced, and our results confirmed this. With the increase of within-row spacing, stems per square meter decreased, while racemes per stem increased significantly. The effects of between-row and within-row spacing on seeds per pod, however, were not significant in four years. The results suggest that 80-cm between-row spacing and 30-cm within-row spacing can decrease the risk of lodging and optimize seed yields in the third and fourth harvest years.

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Received for publication June 15, 2007.




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