Agronomic performance of seven varieties of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) in the coastal savanna zone of Ghana

Abstract

Seven varieties of alfalfa, namely Iroquois, Vernal, Mohawk, Pike F0185, WL 318, Oneda and WL 514, were screened for agronomic performance at Cape Coast in the coastal savanna ecological zone of Ghana during the period from May 1992 to May 1993. A total of 10 harvests were taken at monthly intervals after 3 months of initial growth. Significant differences (P < 0.01) were established among the varieties for dry matter yield, leaf-stem-ratio, rate of regrowth after cutting, and flowering ability. Total dry matter yields for the 10 cuts ranged from 21 049 kg/ha for Mohawk to 24 171 kg/ha for WL 318. Dry matter yield at each cut varied considerably over the year. The highest yields of 3 100 to 3 700 kg/ha/cut were obtained during the second cut in October and the least yields of 1490 to 1650 kg/ha were obtained during the sixth cut taken in January. When left to overgrow, percentage of plants that flowered ranged from 11.3 for Mohawk to 67.5 for WL 318. Again two types of insects, honey bees and the blow fly Calliphora spp., were observed to effectively trip the flowers.


(Ghana Journal of Agricultural Science, 1997, 30(1): 39-44)