Alfalfa survival and vigor in rangeland grazed by sheep
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Authors: J. D. Berdahl, A. C. Wilton, R. J. Lorenz, and A. B. Frank
Date: 1986
Journal: Journal of Range Management
Volume: 39
Number: 1
Pages: 59-62
Summary of Methods: In this 3 year study, Berdahl et al. measured the survival and vigor of 11 alfalfa (Medicago spp.) cultivars intermixed with native species, in a North Dakota grassland, after heavy sheep grazing. The survival and vigor of alfalfa cultivars seemed to be related to the area in which the cultivars were developed, and those developed in South Dakota and Canada had greater survival and vigor than the other cultivars. The North Dakota developed cultivars were likely the best because they had been developed in the climate that they were tested in, and had also been developed with a previous history of grazing. This study indicates that several cultivars of alfalfa are likely suitable for one growing area, and in the future, genetic variations of these cultivars may be created that are more vigorous and have even greater survival in specific areas.
Article Summary / Main Points: None
Vegetation Types:
MLRA Ecoregions:
Agrovoc Control Words: Riparian zones Rangelands Wildlife
Article Review Type: Refereed
Article Type: Experimental Research
Keywords: medicago spp., alfalfa cultivars, competition, habitat suitability, grazing pressure, clipping
Annotation: Each replicate pasture was grazed for one, two week interval between June and August. All pastures were clipped to 10cm stubble height in September of each year. In 1980 through 1982, each replicate was grazed in a sequence for 2 weeks at a heavy stocking rate of 48 ewes/ha.
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