TITLE:
Productivity Evaluation of Four Medicago sativa Cultivars under Two Water Regimes (Irrigated and Non-Irrigated) and Two Soil Types at Bathurst Research Station in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
AUTHORS:
Mhlangabezi Solontsi, Mfundo Phakama Maqubela, Johan Adam van Niekerk, Jan Willem Swanepoel, Gideon Jordaan, Unathi Gulwa, Sive Tokozwayo, Nkululeko Nyangiwe
KEYWORDS:
Biomass, Cultivar, Dry Matter, Dormancy Groupings
JOURNAL NAME:
Agricultural Sciences,
Vol.13 No.3,
March
22,
2022
ABSTRACT: Medicago sativa (lucerne) is a perennial and drought tolerant fodder crop which is widely used as feed for livestock in South Africa. This study evaluated four lucerne cultivars under two water regimes and also determined the effect of soil type on lucerne biomass production. To determine dry matter production per cultivar per treatment, a random grid (quadrant) sampling method was used and all biomass within that radius was cut to 5 cm above the ground level in each plot. All biomass sampling was done just before regrowth commences. Biomass data collection on four lucerne cultivars belonging to different dormancy groupings (WL 711, WL 525 HQ, KKS 9911 and SA Standard) were collected seasonally under different soil types on both irrigated and non-irrigated plots and analysed. Soil type (site) had a significant (P