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Supplemental Irrigation and Fall Dormancy Effects on Alfalfa Productivity in a Semiarid, Subtropical Climate with a Bimodal Precipitation Pattern

^a Texas Agric. Exp. Stn., P.O. Box 1658, Vernon, TX 76385
^b Beijing Research and Dev. Ctr. for Grass and Environment, Beijing Academy of Agric. and Forestry Sci., Beijing 100097, P.R. China
^c The Samuel Roberts Noble Fdn., 2510 Sam Noble Pkwy., Ardmore, OK 73401

View larger version (28K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Fig. 1. Monthly precipitation (2002–2005), long-term average monthly precipitation (1904–2005), and supplemental irrigation of alfalfa to meet the average monthly precipitation at Vernon, TX, during April to October. No precipitation occurred in November and December 2005.

View larger version (29K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Fig. 2. Mean monthly temperature (2002–2005) and long-term average monthly temperature (1904–2005) at Vernon, TX.

View larger version (17K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Fig. 3. Effects of alfalfa fall dormancy (FD) rating on total dry matter (DM) yield in the rain-fed and supplemental irrigation systems. Vertical bars indicate 1 SE. Data are the means of four replications (rain-fed system) or three replications (supplemental irrigation) with one to five cultivars representing each FD rating, excluding FD 2.

View larger version (12K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Fig. 4. Forage dry matter distribution of alfalfa cultivars with fall dormancy (FD) of ratings 1 to 4 and FD ratings of 5 to 8 as a function of harvest month in the supplemental irrigation system. Vertical bars indicate ±1 SE. Data are the means of three replications with one to five cultivars representing each FD rating (excluding FD 2) and four growing seasons. DM, dry matter.

View larger version (11K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Fig. 5. Interaction between growing seasons and harvest months on CP concentration in alfalfa forage in the rain-fed system. Vertical bars indicate 1 SE. Data are the means of four replications and one to five cultivars representing each FD rating, excluding FD 2.

View larger version (31K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Fig. 6. Function of growing season, harvest month, and fall dormancy (FD) rating on crude protein (CP) concentration in alfalfa forage in the rain-fed system. Vertical bars indicate 1 SE. Data are the means of four replications and one to five cultivars representing each FD rating, excluding FD 2.

View larger version (11K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Fig. 7. Interaction between growing seasons and harvest months on in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) of alfalfa forage in the rain-fed system. Vertical bars indicate 1 SE. Data are the means of four replications and one to five cultivars representing each FD rating, excluding FD 2.

View larger version (37K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Fig. 8. Function of growing season, harvest month, and fall dormancy (FD) rating on in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) of alfalfa forage in the supplemental irrigation system. Vertical bars indicate 1 SE. Data are the means of three replications and one to five cultivars representing each FD rating, excluding FD 2.