Published in Scientific Papers. Series "Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture and rural development", Vol. 23 ISSUE 4
Written by Călin SĂLCEANU, Mirela PARASCHIVU, Aurel Liviu OLARU

Alfalfa is the most widely grown perennial forage legumes that are planted frequently for hay, pasture, and silage worldwide, due to its extremely nutritious forage and wide range of adaptability. High yield and economic efficiency of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) are important in determining the effective distribution of new cultivars to farmers. The present study was conducted to explain alfalfa yield variation induced by environmental conditions and genotype. Forage yield, aboveground phytomass, stems elongation, internodes number, growing rhythm, economic performance was assessed for a set of 10 Romanian alfalfa genotypes experienced at ARDS Caracal, Romania, in each of three years (2019-2022). Stem elongation values ranged between 131.4 cm for alfalfa line F2909-2 and 138,8 cm for alfalfa line F2910, while the average internode number ranged between 24.6 for F 2908 and 27 for F2906. Variation in stem elongation was associated with variation in the number of internodes and was positively correlated (r = 0.4448). Also, the fastest growing rhythm was observed to the genotype F2905 and the lowest to F2910. The most economic efficient and profitable was the genotypes F 2907, F2908 and F 2910. Alfalfa production offers a compelling case for both economic efficiency and sustainable agriculture.

[Read full article] [Citation]