INFLUENCE OF CLIPPING TREATMENT ON THE YIELD, MINERAL CONTENT AND ROOT DEVELOPMENT OF THREE GRASS-ALFALFA MIXTURES

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Abstract
Three mixtures, timothy-alfalfa, bromegrass-alfalfa and orchardgrass-alfalfa, were studied under different clipping treatments in the greenhouse at Nappan, Nova Scotia. The mixtures were clipped each time the plant growth reached heights of 6, 8 and 12 inches to stubble heights of [Formula: see text] and 3 inches. Bromegrass-alfalfa was highest in total yield for almost all treatments. Cutting at the 12-inch height resulted in significantly higher yields than cutting at either 8 or 6 inches for all treatments. The grass fraction of the orchardgrass-alfalfa mixture was the only entry that was significantly higher yielding for all treatments when cut at the shorter stubble height. In the grass fraction of the yield orchardgrass has a mean yield 25 per cent greater for all treatments than timothy and almost 150 per cent greater than bromegrass. The yield of alfalfa grown in association with bromegrass was significantly better for all treatments than when grown with either timothy or orchardgrass. Root production was greater with increase in plant and stubble height. Significant differences in percentage of Ca, Mg, K, P and N content were obtained for all treatments for each of the grasses and the alfalfa grown with them except for the per cent Ca and P in the bromegrass fraction. Production of these elements was influenced more by yield of dry matter than by percentage content.