YIELD AND QUALITY OF ALFALFA AS AFFECTED BY SOME CULTURAL TREATMENTS

Abstract

Two field experiments were carried out at the Agricultural Experiment and Research Station, Cairo Univ., Egypt in two locations. The first location was in Giza from 2013 to 2017 at loamy clay soil. The second location was in Wadi El-Natroon, in El-Bihera Governerate from 2016 to 2018 at sandy soil. First experiment was aimed to study the effect of low irrigation rates and phosphorous additions on growth, yield, WUE and protein and fiber contents of two alfalfa cultivars ( El Wadi El Gadid and Cuf-101).Three irrigation treatments (100%, 80% and 60%) in Giza and (100%, 75% and 50%) in Wadi El-Natroon were used. Three phosphorous rates (0, 60 and 80 kg P2O5/fed) were used. The results showed that there were significant increments in total fresh and dry forage yields by using irrigation level 80 % than those of 100 and 60 % in 2014, 2016 and 2017 seasons in Giza and 75% in Wadi El-Natroon. Values of WUE for fresh and dry forage yields were increased by decreasing irrigation level from 100 to 60 %. El Wadi El Gadid cultivar had significant increases of total fresh and dry yields, as well as, WUE and quality than Cuf-101 cultivar. Increasing phosphorous rates from 0 to 40 and 80 kg P2O5/fad caused significant increases in total fresh and dry yields, as well as, WUE and quality.