Yields of protein extracted from irrigated lucerne

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Abstract
When grown under irrigation in Canterbury, New Zealand, lucerne whole herbage gave total nitrogen yields and leaf and stem percentages which were similar for 5-weekJy (preflowering) harvests and early-flowenng harvests. Yields of extractable protem were also similar. although total herbage dry-matter yields were significantly higher from the longer intervals between harvests (195q kg/ha protein from 17 200 kg/ha dry herbage at preflowenng stage; 1880 kg/ha protem from 21 340 kg/ha dry herbage at early-flowering stage). Extractable protein yielded by herbage cut at 4-weekly intervals to a stubble of 10 em length was similar to that obtained from a crop cut less frequently and to a shorter stubble. Total N yield of lucerne was higher when the crop was grazed at 5-weekly intervals than when it was cut at the same mtervals. The yield of extractable protein from a treatment which was cut at 5-weekly intervals, then stocked. with sheep fed chopped green lucerne ad lib. on the. same area for the subsequent week, was Similar to that under 5-week cuttmg management Without grazmg. This suggests that regrowth. of the next crop would not be prejudiced if stock were fed protein-extracted residue for a limited penod on the same area.