Effect of Irrigation Intervals on forage production and quality of different alfalfa varieties under semi-arid conditions

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L) is a well-known and most important forage crop throughout the world-wide, its yield and quality can be enhanced by well-managed irrigation and improved varieties. These two factors have significant changeable role among quantity and quality of the alfalfa crop. During the winter season of 2016-17, an investigation was performed at the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad to evaluate the effect of irrigation intervals on forage production and quality of different alfalfa varieties under semi-arid conditions. three irrigation intervals (10, 20 and 30 days after sowing) on three varieties of alfalfa (Supersonic, Sultana and Lucerne 2002) were used to study its effect on agronomic parameters (plant density, plant height, fresh and dry weights per plant, leaf area, fresh forage and dry matter yields per hectare) and quality parameters (crude protein, crude fiber and total ash content). The research was arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with split plot arrangement and having 3 replications. Data of the Crop growth, yield and the quality related traits was recorded by applying standard procedure. For statistical analysis of the recorded data, Fisher's ANOVA technique was used and the Treatments mean values were compared at 5% probability level using the least significant difference (LSD) test. Result of the field experiment revealed that the maximum green forage yield of 26.80 t ha-1 and protein percentage 21.05 was obtained when crop was irrigated 20 days interval and variety Lucerne 2002 was used. Therefore, irrigation with 20 days interval and using Lucerne 2002 variety proved to be best under agroecological conditions of Faisalabad.