In the 1950\u27s and 60\u27s alfalfa variety trials were conducted by the Lexington staff at 5 to 7 locations. Trials are now limited to Lexington and Princeton, but numerous demonstration seedings are established by the Extension Service personnel throughout the state

Sigafus, Roy E.

English

University of Kentucky

-11-KENTUCKY ALFALFA VARIETY TESTING PROGRAM Roy E. Sigafus Department of Agronomy, University of Kentucky In the 1950's and 60's alfalfa variety trials were conduc-ted by the Lexington staff at 5 to 7 locations. Trials are now limited to Lexington and Princeton, but numerous demonstration seedings are established by the Extension Service personnel throughout the state. Since 1971, a dozen different alfalfa variety trials have been sown at Lexington or Princeton as shown in Table 1. Table 1. Year Seeded 1971 1972* 1974* 1976 1977 1979* 19 80 1982 Alfalfa Variety Trials at Lexington and Princeton. Number of Entries Year Lexlngton Princeton Terminated Special Purpose 30 30 4 14 25 30 41 44 30 25 20 36 1975, 1974 1974 1976 1981 1982 1980 (1984-85)# (1986-87)# Excess Water Weevil Damage Fall Seeding *No results reported Wprojected date of termination In 1972 seeding was "drowned" out during the very wet spring of 1973, and the 1979 August seeding was "wiped" out by Sclerotinia in the spring of 1980. The weevil damage accessment trial of 1974 was abandoned after two years because weevils were so few in number. The 1971 seedings included the recommended varieties, several new private and public varie·ties from different areas of the coun-try and Canada. The unhardy, southwestern variety went out of stand first. Creeping varieties and those known to be most winter hardy were poor performers. Weevlchek was the outstanding variety in this test and in two seeded by Dr. N. L. Taylor in 1969 and 1970. It was added to the recommended list in 1974 along with Buffalo, Narraganset, Ranger, Vernal and Williamsburg. The last list of recommended varieties of alfalfa was put out in 1976. Variety performance as reported in recent Forage Variety Progress Reports or in the Agronomy Notes show that half a dozen or more new varieties are performing as well or better than Weevlchek. Choosing Varieties or Experimental Strains to be Tested In theory, any alfalfa is eligible to be included in the Kentucky trials, but all are not included. A fee for testing has been considered but at present is not being charged. -12-Seed surveys made in 1973 and 1979 by regulatory inspectors supplied a list of alfalfas offered for sale in Kentucky. The most widely sold varieties have been included in tests with one exception. Blends have usually been excluded, expecially those which vary in composition from year to year. A major source of entires has been varieties registered for certification by the National Certified Alfalfa Variety Review Board. Developers must submit a statement of origin and breeding procedures; the probable area of adaptation; classes of seed to be sold; the date when first offered for sale; and degree of re-sistance to anthracnose, bacterial wilt, phytophthora root rot, pea aphid, spotted alfalfa aphid, and stem nematode. The degree of resistance is indicated as high resistance, resistance, moder-ate resistance, low resistance, or susceptible to the pest. There have been exceptions, but in general, only those experimentals are included which are ready for naming and release. Experimental Procedure Trial plots are 5 x 13 ft with 3 or 4 replications per loca-tion, and are seeded broadcast by hand on herbicide treated soil. Seeding rates, lime, fertilizer, herbicide, and insecticide, in general, follow recommendations found in Kentucky Cooperative Extension publications. The primary measurement is for yield. Visual ratings are made for relative stage of maturity, and for insect and disease damage when appropriate. All varieties in a single test are har-vested on the same day when varieties are at bud to early bloom stage. At times earlier than normal harvesting has eliminated the need for spraying to control the alfalfa weevil or potato leafhopper. In the following tables, yield summaries are presented for the 1976, 1977, 1980 and 1982 seedings. For the older stands, total accumulated yields are shown along with the yield and rank in yield for the last year of harvest. For convenience, varieties are listed in order of total accumulated yield with the highest yielding variety listed first. Table 2. Variety Arc Olympic Wevlchek Vangard Thor Apollo Cody 1981 Yields Yields for Yield Tons/A 7.89 8.31 7.97 7.43 7.44 7.26 7.39 and Rankings of Alfalfa Varieties 1977-81. (Seeded in April 1976 at 1981 5-year Total Rank Tons/A Variety 3 32.10 530 l 30.88 Narraganset 2 30.63 Vernal 5 29.84 Agate 4 29.83 Buffalo 7 29.25 Ramsey 6 27.92 Victoria Seeded in 1976 1 and Total Lexington) 1981 5 year Yield Total Tons/A Rank Tons/A 6.87 14 27.83 7.17 8 27.72 7.16 9 27.60 6.98 13 27.58 7.07 12 27.56 7.10 ll 27.28 7.12 10 27.14 Harvested 3 times in 1976 but yields not recorded due to weeds. 2 Harvested 4 times in 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1981 but 5 times in 1980. Mean yield for 1981 = 7.37 Tons/A; for 5-year total= 28.79 Tons/A. I 1-' w I Table 3. 1982 Yields and Rankings of Alfalfa Yields for 1977-82. (Seeded in May Varieties Seeded in 1977 and Total 1977) Variety Arc Saranac Olympic Saranac Iroquois AR Vernal Classic Lancer Gladiator Vangard Honeoye Apollo Williamsburg Cody 530 Tempo Victoria Weevlchek Narraganset Team Buffalo Ramsey Thor Agate Spredor Means LEXINGTON Tons/A 7.53 7.24 7.70 7.45 7.16 7.36 6.79 7.76 7.06 7.49 6.91 7.70 7.12 7.58 6.79 6.60 6.69 7.05 7.08 6.96 7.31 7.10 6.66 7.06 5.59 7.11 1982 Rank 7 8 3 6 11 9 20 1 16 5 19 2 12 4 21 24 22 17 14 18 10 13 23 15 25 77-82 Tons/A 34.71 34.40 34.16 34.07 33.59 33.52 33.35 33.15 33.03 33.01 32.89 32.67 32.61 32.22 32.14 31.7 3 31.71 31.63 31.46 31.28 31.07 31.07 31.07 30.85 25.59 32.28 ·Six-year totals include 24 harvests at Variety Saranac AR Weevlchek Classic Apollo Tempo Vangard Gladiator Lancer Williamsburg Narragansett Olympic Cody Ramsey Team Vernal Thor Agate Iroquois Saranac Honeoye Victoria Buffalo Arc 530 Spredor Means PRINCETON 1982 Tons/A Rank 6.54 12 6.68 7 6.35 17 6.66 9 6.71 5 7.18 1 6.52 13 6.78 3 6.46 15 6.15 20 6.88 2 6.74 4 6.67 8 6.50 14 6.63 10 5. 71 23 6.61 11 6.19 19 5.94 21 5.88 22 6.71 6 6.44 16 6.33 18 5.52 24 5.20 25 6.40 Princeton and 23 at Lexington 77-82 Tons/A 31.39 30.71 30.39 30.31 30.18 30.12 29.95 29.54 29.46 29.45 29.40 29.22 28.92 28.89 28.77 28.66 28.65 28.48 28.31 28.25 28.18 28.08 27.88 26.93 24.75 28.99 I >--' ..,. I Table 4. Variety Saranac WL 78-T4 G-7730 WL-220 Apollo Raidor Gladiator Vangard Honeoye Cimarron Voris A-77 NK 78-117 WL-312 WL-745T9 Arc WL 313 Weevlchek Vancor 524 Saranac AR Baker Trident Hi-Phy 120 Vernal Voris A-66 Liberty 130 531 WL T-25 Iroquois Thor Buffalo Classic WL-311 1982 Yields and Rankings of Alfalfa Varieties Seeded in 1980 and Total Yields for Second and Third Harvest Seasons for 41 Alfalfa Varieties at Lexington and 20 Varieties at Princeton. LEXINGTON Tons/A 7. 77 7.78 8.00 8.22 8.16 7.78 8.19 7.85 7.84 8.02 8.03 7.76 7.86 7.79 7.91 8.17 7.81 7.88 7.60 7.54 7.63 7.94 7.39 7.69 7. 72 7.77 7.72 7.53 7.57 7.54 7.38 7.33 7.77 7. 2 7 7.21 1982 Rank 20 16 7 1 4 17 2 12 13 6 5 21 11 15 9 3 14 10 28 30 27 8 36 24 23 18 22 32 29 31 37 38 19 39 40 81-82 Tons/A 16.08 16.04 16.03 15.98 15.97 15.95 15.90 15.86 15.85 15.84 15.83 15.81 15.81 15.76 15.66 15.65 15.63 15.59 15.59 15.54 15.50 15.46 15.39 15.36 15.36 15.35 15.24 15.22 15.21 15.18 15.12 15.10 15.00 14.97 14.96 Variety Saranac AR Hi-Phy Gladiator Riley Liberty Cimarron Apollo Voris A-77 Vancor Weevlchek classic Tempo G-7730 WL-220 130 555 Buffalo Phytor Vernal Baker Mean PRINCETON 1982 Tons/A 8.01 7.93 8.03 8.02 8.13 7.80 8.01 8.13 7.98 7.71 7.47 7.65 7.64 7.82 7.43 7.55 7.87 7.67 7.21 6.95 7.75 Rank 5 8 3 4 1 11 6 2 7 12 17 14 15 10 18 16 9 13 19 20 81 82 Tons/A 14.97 14.81 14.72 14.71 14.61 14.55 14.53 14. 36 14. 33 14.28 14.24 14.22 14.13 13 0 99 13.99 13.84 13.66 13.45 13. 02 12.47 14.14 Seeded at Princeton April 22, 1980. Harvested twice in 1980, 4 times in 1981 and 5 times in 1982. (Yields of 2 harvests at Princeton in 1980 were recorded but are not given. LEXINGTON 1982 81-82 Variety Tons/A Rank Tons/A 555 7.66 25 14.96 Phytor 7.41 33 14.93 WL-318 7.40 35 14.90 Riley 7.64 26 14.86 Tempo 7.15 41 14.66 Agate 7.40 34 14.22 Mean 7.96 15.45 Seeded at Lexington May 2, 1980. Harvested twice in 1980 but yields not recorded due to excess weeds. Harvest-ed 4 times in 1981 and 1982. I f-' "' I Table 5. Dry Weight of Alfalfa Varieties Seeded in 1982. Variety Raidor Shenandoah Voris A-77 WL-311 130* Vangard Drummor 531 Duke Apollo Marathon Cimarron Arc Perry* Vernal Gladiator WL 78 T-28* Advantage WL-CA670-7l* Thor Resis* WL-220 Mean Yield of LEXINGTON Tons/A Variety 4.71 555 4.65 WL 77-78CAB* 4.61 Olympic 4.57 Tempo 4.57 Armor 4.53 532 4.52 Hi-Ton 30 4.51 919 4.49 Hi-Ton 70 4.47 Saranac AR 4.43 Apollo II 4.42 120* 4.40 WL-318 4.38 Hi-Phy 4.37 Trident 4.36 WL-316* 4.28 526 4. 26 Vancor 4.26 WL-315 4.25 Buffalo 4.24 Classic 4.24 Williamsburg 44 Varieties Tons/A 4.22 4.22 4.21 4.20 4.19 4.16 4.16 4.13 4.12 4.11 4.11 4.11 4.10 4.06 4.06 3.97 3.96 3.92 3.91 3.85 3.75 3.68 4.24 Seeded at Lexington April 16, 1982. Harvested June 30, Aug. 12, and Sept. 28. *Seeded at Lexington but not at Princeton. Variety Voris A-77 Olympic WL 78-T20 Hi-Phy WL 77-88CAB Advantage Raidor Cimarron Vangard Shenandoah Marathon Gladiator Hi-Ton 30 Tempo 531 Classic Trident WL-311 Mean Yield of PRINCETON Tons/A Variety 5.64 555 5.61 Saranac AR 5.60 Vancor 5.54 WL CA 670-71 5.53 Vernal 5.39 Duke 5.38 Drummor 5.37 532 5.24 Apollo 5.09 Buffalo 5.07 Arc 5.06 Apollo II 5.02 Williamsburg 5.01 WL-318 4.97 Armor 4.97 Thor 4.96 526 4.96 WL-315 36 Varieties Tons/A 4.92 4.88 4. 8 8 4.88 4.87 4.85 4.85 4.84 4.82 4.78 4.76 4.76 4.73 4.70 4.58 4.56 4.46 4.28 5.00 Seeded at Princeto April 2, 1982. Harvested June 21, Aug. 3, Sept. 8, and Nov. 9. NOTE: There are several new alfalfa varieties listed in Tables 4 and 5 that are not on the market in Kentucky. Experimental strains are not available either but are in advanced testing and most will soon be named and released. I f-' -.] I 

Kentucky Alfalfa Variety Testing Program

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Kentucky Alfalfa Variety Testing Program

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