İrfan Çoruh

Lucerne persistence, yield and quality as influenced by stand aging

Abstract The effects of a range of stand ages on lu‐cerne were studied over three locations in Erzurum, Turkey. Dry matter yield, weed ratio, plant density and content of crude protein (CP), acid detergent fibre (ADF) and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) were determined in stands of different ages. Stand age reduced the dry matter yield and increased weed ratio and density. This yield reduction was from 5533 kg ha‐1 (in the second year) to 3039 kg ha‐1 (in the seventh year). Lucerne plant density was the highest (225.6 plants m‐2) in the establishment year. It reduced in the subsequent years, while weed densities increased with stand age. Protein, ADF and NDF content in forage were strongly affected by increased stand age. In general, the crude protein content decreased, while ADF andNDF contents increased, with aging. The results of this study showed that lucerne persisted well for 6 years and produced high yields with low weed content under irrigated conditions in Erzurum.