Lucerne (<i>Medicago sativa</i> L.) Persistence Remains Unchanged under Variable Cutting Regimes
Lucerne (<i>Medicago sativa</i> L.) persistence is important for farming systems in south east Australia. Defoliation of lucerne that is too frequent (arguably more than once every six weeks) reduces yield and accelerates stand decline. Three experiments were conducted in south east Aust...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-06-01
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| Series: | Agronomy |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/10/6/844 |
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| author | Vivianne F. Burnett Kym L. Butler Jeff R. Hirth Meredith L. Mitchell Steve G. Clark Zhongnan Nie |
| author_facet | Vivianne F. Burnett Kym L. Butler Jeff R. Hirth Meredith L. Mitchell Steve G. Clark Zhongnan Nie |
| author_sort | Vivianne F. Burnett |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Lucerne (<i>Medicago sativa</i> L.) persistence is important for farming systems in south east Australia. Defoliation of lucerne that is too frequent (arguably more than once every six weeks) reduces yield and accelerates stand decline. Three experiments were conducted in south east Australia (Burraja, New South Wales; Rutherglen and Hamilton, Victoria) to investigate different cutting regimes on lucerne persistence. At Burraja lucerne was cut 16 (lax) or 33 (severe) times over three years at different plant densities. At Rutherglen and Hamilton lucerne was cut every 21 days (short rotation), every 42 days (long rotation), when new shoots (2.5 cm long) emerged (new shoots) or cutting when new shoots emerged but allowing the lucerne to flower in autumn (new shoots flowering). It was hypothesised that the frequent cutting of lucerne would result in lower plant densities. At Burraja there was little difference between treatments at any density or assessment. At Hamilton, apart from the assessment in June 2016, there was no difference (<i>p</i> > 0.1) between treatments. At Rutherglen, there was no difference (<i>p</i> > 0.1) between treatments at any assessment although plant numbers declined in 2016 from waterlogging. The results provide evidence that lucerne has intrinsic mechanisms that protect it from cutting, often at short intervals, thus promoting its persistence over three to four-year periods. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:11:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-476b33340c7141c48cfad1f39b79f144 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:11:58Z |
| publishDate | 2020-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj.art-476b33340c7141c48cfad1f39b79f1442023-11-20T03:44:39ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952020-06-0110684410.3390/agronomy10060844Lucerne (<i>Medicago sativa</i> L.) Persistence Remains Unchanged under Variable Cutting RegimesVivianne F. Burnett0Kym L. Butler1Jeff R. Hirth2Meredith L. Mitchell3Steve G. Clark4Zhongnan Nie5Agriculture Victoria, Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions, 124 Chiltern Valley Road, Rutherglen 3685, Victoria, AustraliaAgriculture Victoria, Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions, 915 Mount Napier Road, Hamilton 3300, Victoria, AustraliaJeff Hirth Editorial and Agronomic Services, 182 Anzac Road, Springhurst 3682, Victoria, AustraliaAgriculture Victoria, Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions, 124 Chiltern Valley Road, Rutherglen 3685, Victoria, AustraliaFormerly Agriculture Victoria, Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions, 915 Mount Napier Road, Hamilton 3300, Victoria, AustraliaAgriculture Victoria, Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions, 915 Mount Napier Road, Hamilton 3300, Victoria, AustraliaLucerne (<i>Medicago sativa</i> L.) persistence is important for farming systems in south east Australia. Defoliation of lucerne that is too frequent (arguably more than once every six weeks) reduces yield and accelerates stand decline. Three experiments were conducted in south east Australia (Burraja, New South Wales; Rutherglen and Hamilton, Victoria) to investigate different cutting regimes on lucerne persistence. At Burraja lucerne was cut 16 (lax) or 33 (severe) times over three years at different plant densities. At Rutherglen and Hamilton lucerne was cut every 21 days (short rotation), every 42 days (long rotation), when new shoots (2.5 cm long) emerged (new shoots) or cutting when new shoots emerged but allowing the lucerne to flower in autumn (new shoots flowering). It was hypothesised that the frequent cutting of lucerne would result in lower plant densities. At Burraja there was little difference between treatments at any density or assessment. At Hamilton, apart from the assessment in June 2016, there was no difference (<i>p</i> > 0.1) between treatments. At Rutherglen, there was no difference (<i>p</i> > 0.1) between treatments at any assessment although plant numbers declined in 2016 from waterlogging. The results provide evidence that lucerne has intrinsic mechanisms that protect it from cutting, often at short intervals, thus promoting its persistence over three to four-year periods.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/10/6/844alfalfa/lucernedefoliationdensityfarming system |
| spellingShingle | Vivianne F. Burnett Kym L. Butler Jeff R. Hirth Meredith L. Mitchell Steve G. Clark Zhongnan Nie Lucerne (<i>Medicago sativa</i> L.) Persistence Remains Unchanged under Variable Cutting Regimes Agronomy alfalfa/lucerne defoliation density farming system |
| title | Lucerne (<i>Medicago sativa</i> L.) Persistence Remains Unchanged under Variable Cutting Regimes |
| title_full | Lucerne (<i>Medicago sativa</i> L.) Persistence Remains Unchanged under Variable Cutting Regimes |
| title_fullStr | Lucerne (<i>Medicago sativa</i> L.) Persistence Remains Unchanged under Variable Cutting Regimes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Lucerne (<i>Medicago sativa</i> L.) Persistence Remains Unchanged under Variable Cutting Regimes |
| title_short | Lucerne (<i>Medicago sativa</i> L.) Persistence Remains Unchanged under Variable Cutting Regimes |
| title_sort | lucerne i medicago sativa i l persistence remains unchanged under variable cutting regimes |
| topic | alfalfa/lucerne defoliation density farming system |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/10/6/844 |
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