Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) water use efficiency as affected by harvest traffic and soil compaction in a sandy loam soil

Rechel, E.A. and DeTar, W.R. and Meek, B.D. and Carter, L.M. (1991) Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) water use efficiency as affected by harvest traffic and soil compaction in a sandy loam soil. Irrigation Science. 12:61-65.

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Abstract

Traffic during alfalfa harvest operations can
cause soil compaction and damage to newly growing
stems. Root exploration for soil water and nutrients,
forage growth dynamics, and final yield can all be affected.
The objectives of this study were to determine the
long-term effects of harvest traffic and soil compaction on
water-use efficiency (WUE) of alfalfa grown in a Wasco
sandy loam (coarse-loamy, mixed, nonacid, thermic Typic
Torriorthents). Alfalfa was planted into tilled soil and
managed with or without harvest traffic. Plants subjected
to traffic during harvest had a significantly lower WUE
two out of the three years studied compared to plants that
were never subject to traffic. The second experiment examined
whether planting alfalfa into compacted soil and
managed with or without harvest traffic altered WUE.
Soil compaction had no affect on alfalfa WUE. It was
significantly lower when grown in compacted soil and
subjected to harvest traffic. It is suggested that the decrease
in WUE caused by harvest traffic may be explained
by plants allocating carbohydrates to damaged shoots
and crowns instead of to above ground forage production.
The area of the field affected by harvest traffic, which
damages newly growing stems, should be minimized to
increase crop water use efficiency.

Item Type:	Article
NWISRL Publication Number:	0751
Subjects:	Irrigated crops > Alfalfa Soil Practical farm efficiency Mass Import - autoclassified (may be erroneous)
Depositing User:	Dan Stieneke
Date Deposited:	20 Nov 2010 21:53
Last Modified:	06 Dec 2016 23:52
Item ID:	561
URI:	https://eprints.nwisrl.ars.usda.gov/id/eprint/561