Crop Science Journal of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Education
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Published in Crop Sci 9:637-640 (1969)
© 1969 Crop Science Society of America
677 S. Segoe Rd., Madison, WI 53711 USA
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Effects of Leaf and Stem Diseases on Yield and Quality of Alfalfa Forage1

W. G. Willis, W. L. Stuteville and E. L. Sorensen2

Field plots of alfalfa, Medicago sativa L., sprayed weekly with Dithane M-45 during the 1965 growing season to control leaf and stem diseases yielded 2.8 MT/ha (18%) more hay than did unsprayed plots (Average of four varieties in four cuttings). Disease control increased carotene content 21% (third cutting) and decreased stem defoliation 18%. Increases in annual forage yields in MT/ha, for sprayed over unsprayed plots, respectively, were ‘Cody’ 1.57 (8.8%), ‘Lahontan’ 3.47 (21.1%), ‘Ranger’ 3.11 (19.4%), and ‘Vernal’ 3.11 (26.9%).

Phoma medicaginis and Leptosphaerulina briosiana were the major pathogens in the first and second cuttings. Their control increased yields of Cody 4%, Lahontan 14%, Ranger 19%, and Vernal 19% for the first two cuttings combined. Cercospora zebrina was the principal pathogen in the third and fourth cuttings. Control of C. zebrina increased yields of Cody 16%, Ranger 29%, Lahontan 30%, and Vernal 38% for the third and fourth cuttings combined. Corresponding increases in carotene content for the third cutting were 17, 20, 45, and 10%, respectively.

Defoliation was reduced by spray treatments. Protein percentage was not affected.

Key Words: Medicago sativa • Fungicides • Disease losses • Carotene • Protein • Forage yield

1 Contribution No. 511, Department of Plant Pathology, and No. 1079 Department of Agronomy, Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kans., and the Crops Research Division, Agricultural Research Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture. Portion of a dissertation presented by the senior author in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Ph.D. in Plant Pathology.

2 Extension Plant Pathologist and Plant Pathologist, Department of Plant Pathology, and Research Agronomist, Crops Research Division, ARS, USDA, Manhattan, Kans. 66502.

Received for publication March 17, 1969.




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Copyright © 1969 by the Crop Science Society of America.