Leaf-To-Stem Ratio and Composition of Alfalfa from Five Harvesting Systems

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Abstract
Five different cutting systems, common to the Nebraska alfalfa industry, were employed to study the variation in the chemical composition of alfalfa leaves, stems and the whole plant among cutting systems, and among cuttings within cutting systems. Changes in the in vitro dry matter disappearance (DMD) of the alfalfa plant were closely related to changes in the fibrous components of the stems and to changes in the leaf : stem ratio. Differences in DMD of the leaves were small or nonsignificant among cutting systems as well as within cutting systems. Acid-detergent fiber, ADL and CWC increased with plant maturation, while at the same time DMD and protein content decreased. Correlations between DMD and fiber components of the stems and of the whole plant were high and negative. Similar correlations in the leaf fraction and the whole plant varied more among cuttings within cutting systems than among cutting systems. Alfalfa harvested at bud stage of maturity was consistently higher in percent leaves, protein content and DMD than alfalfa harvested at either 1/10 bloom or full bloom. Copyright © 1970. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1970 by American Society of Animal Science

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