San Luis Valley Alfalfa Variety Trial at Center

By Merlin A. Dillon
Area Extension Agent, Agronomy
San Luis Valley Research Center, Center, CO
(719) 754-3494  x12
e-mail: merlin.dillon@colostate.edu

The 2002-2004 results of Colorado State University’s alfalfa variety performance trial at Center are presented here.  Plots were planted in June 2000 and the 2004 data are the third full year of the three-year testing period.  Since only two harvests were taken in 2001, this data is not reported.  Three full years’ data include 2002-2004.  Results for 2004 by cutting are presented in Table 1; yearly total results for 2002-2004 are presented in Table 2.

Alfalfa stands were excellent with few weeds throughout the testing period.  The plots were center pivot irrigated at the Sherrel Mix farm (Rio Grande County Roads 8N & 1 W), two miles from the Research Center.

Summer 2002 was hot and dry which made for good haymaking conditions.  The entire summer was dry and there was no rain damage.  The first cutting was early, the second cutting was not rained on, and the third cutting was larger than normal because of the warm season.  Yields were exceptionally high, averaging 7.0 tons per acre.  Twelve varieties were significantly higher yielding than the other varieties in 2002 (Table 2).

Summer 2003 was not quite as warm and dry as 2002.  The first cutting was early, the second cutting received some showers and the third cutting yield was lower yielding than in 2002.  Twenty four varieties averaged 5.7 tons per acre (Table 2).  2003 total yield differences were not significantly different.

Summer 2004 started warmer than normal and the first cutting was earlier than normal.  The summer of 2004 was much cooler than the previous two years.  The cooler weather reduced the third cutting yield and total yield compared to the previous two years (Table 1).  The average yield was 5.5 tons per acre.  Eight varieties yielded significantly higher than the other varieties in 2004 and also were significantly higher yielding in the first and third cuttings.

Results averaged over several years are more useful, more important than single year results.  The three-year average yields are shown in Table 2.  Thirteen of 24 varieties produced high yields when averaged for all 3 years.  These did not include the control varieties Vernal and Ranger.  The high yield varieties included WL 327, DK 143, FG 3R139, Pro Gro, Baralfa 42IQ, Select, Pioneer 53V08, WL 325HQ, Magnum V, Geneva, Abound, DK 142, and Columbia 2000.  The high yield varieties included newer, improved disease and insect resistant varieties already being grown by progressive growers in the San Luis Valley.


Table 1.  Forage yields of 24 alfalfa varieties at the San Luis Valley1 in 2004.

   

1st Cut

2nd Cut

3rd Cut

Total3

3-yr

Variety

Brand/Source

June 16

July 24

 Sept 21

2004

Average
   

------------------------tons/acre2------------------------

DK 143

DeKalb

2.6

2.2

1.2

6.0

5.1

FG 3R139

Forage Genetics

2.6

2.1

1.3

6.0

5.1

WL 327

WL Research

2.5

2.1

1.3

5.9

5.1

Geneva

Novartis

2.4

2.2

1.2

5.8

5.0

Baralfa 42IQ

Barenbrug

2.5

2.1

1.2

5.8

5.0

WL 325 HQ

WL Research

2.6

2.0

1.2

5.8

5.0

Select

Forage Genetics

2.4

2.0

1.3

5.7

5.0

Pro Gro

M.B.S., Inc.

2.4

2.1

1.2

5.7

5.1

53V08

Pioneer

2.3

2.2

1.2

5.7

5.0

Abound

Asgrow

2.3

2.1

1.2

5.6

4.9

Magnum V

Dairyland

2.3

2.1

1.2

5.6

5.0

DK 142

DeKalb

2.3

2.0

1.2

5.5

4.9

Columbia 2000

Public

2.3

2.0

1.1

5.5

4.9

Award

Asgrow

2.3

2.1

1.1

5.5

4.8

FG 4200

Forage Genetics

2.3

1.9

1.2

5.5

4.7

DK 134

DeKalb

2.3

2.0

1.1

5.4

4.7

54Q53

Pioneer

2.3

1.9

1.2

5.4

4.7

Aspire

Asgrow

2.3

2.0

1.1

5.4

4.7

AmeriStand 201

ABI Alfalfa

2.3

2.0

1.0

5.3

4.6

WL 232 HQ

WL Research

2.2

2.0

1.1

5.3

4.7

Ranger

USDA-NE AES

2.1

2.2

0.9

5.2

4.8

Gold Plus

M.B.S., Inc.

2.4

1.8

1.1

5.2

4.5

HybriForce TM 400

Dairyland

2.1

1.9

1.1

5.1

4.6

Vernal

USDA-WI AES

2.1

2.0

0.8

4.9

4.5

Average

  

2.3

2.1

1.1

5.5

4.9

CV(%)

  

8.3

10.1

10.5

6.7

5.0

LSD(0 .10)

  

0.2

NS

0.1

0.4

0.3
1Trial conducted on the Sherrel Mix farm, Rio Grande County Roads 8N & 1 W; seeded at 16 lbs/acre on 6/16/2000.
2Yields calculated on oven-dry basis.
3Table is arranged by decreasing, 2004 Total yield

Site Information:

Elevation = 7700 ft.
Average annual precipitation = 6.92 inches.
Average frost-free days = 88days (32 0 F).
Average last spring frost - June 10; average first fall frost - September 6.
Soil Series: Norte gravelly sandy loam.

Table 2.  Three Year Alfalfa Variety Performance Trial Results, San Luis Valley1, 2002-2004.

   

Total

Total

Total

3-yr

Variety

Brand/Source

2002

2003

2004

Average3
   

----------------tons/acre2----------------

WL 327

WL Research

7.4

5.9

5.9

5.1

DK 143

DeKalb

7.1

6.0

6.0

5.1

FG 3R139

Forage Genetics

7.2

5.9

6.0

5.1

Pro Gro

M.B.S., Inc.

7.3

5.6

5.7

5.1

Baralfa 42IQ

Barenbrug

7.1

5.8

5.8

5.0

Select

Forage Genetics

7.3

5.9

5.7

5.0

53V08

Pioneer

7.1

5.8

5.7

5.0

WL 325 HQ

WL Research

7.2

5.8

5.8

5.0

Magnum V

Dairyland

7.2

6.1

5.6

5.0

Geneva

Novartis

7.0

5.9

5.8

5.0

Abound

Asgrow

7.1

5.8

5.6

4.9

DK 142

DeKalb

7.1

5.8

5.5

4.9

Columbia 2000

Public

7.1

5.7

5.5

4.9

Award

Asgrow

6.7

5.5

5.5

4.8

Ranger

USDA-NE AES

6.9

5.5

5.2

4.8

Aspire

Asgrow

6.8

5.5

5.4

4.7

DK 134

DeKalb

6.9

5.5

5.4

4.7

FG 4200

Forage Genetics

6.8

5.5

5.5

4.7

54Q53

Pioneer

6.8

5.7

5.4

4.7

WL 232 HQ

WL Research

6.9

5.5

5.3

4.7

HybriForceTM 400

Dairyland

6.8

5.6

5.1

4.6

AmeriStand 201

ABI Alfalfa

6.5

5.1

5.3

4.6

Gold Plus

M.B.S., Inc.

6.5

5.0

5.2

4.5

Vernal

USDA-WI AES

6.6

5.6

4.9

4.5

Average

  

7.0

5.7

5.5

4.9

CV(%)

  

4.6

8.3

6.7

5.0

LSD(0 .10)

  

0.4

NS

0.4

0.3
1Trial conducted on the Sherrel Mix farm, Rio Grande County Roads 8N & 1W; seeded at 16  lbs/acre on 6/16/2000.
2Yields calculated on oven-dry basis.
3Table is arranged by decreasing, 3-yr average yield.