Test III 



This test was seeded August 14, 1973. It included one New Hampshire 

 synthetic, the two Wisconsin synthetics B-6 and B-7, plus the following varieties: 

 'Baylor', 'Blair', 'Bromage', 'Fox', Magna', 'Polar' and 'Saratoga'. 



A crop of winter rye was plowed under in spring 1973 and the land was 

 fallowed until August. Fertilization, seeding, and harvesting were the same as in 

 Test II. 



RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 



Alfalfa 



Insect occurrence 



Incidence of the leaf blotch miner, a relatively new insect in this area, was 

 quite high in 1973, very low in 1974, and moderate in 1975. The occurrence was 

 not serious enough to warrant insecticide application, however. There was a 

 moderate infestation of alfalfa weevil with the first cutting, 1974, but damage 

 was not extensive. 'Team' and 'Weevlcheck' are reported to have high resistance 

 to alfalfa weevil, an insect presently under control in this region as a result of 

 predators (6). Observations during the 1974 weevil attack were that 'Team' was 

 the only variety with any significant degree of resistance to feeding of the alfalfa 

 weevil. There was a moderate attack of the potato leafhopper on the third 

 cutting in 1974. The symptoms and effects of this insect are similar to those of 

 drought and of boron deficiency. 



Winter survival 



There was no significant overwintering loss of stand. It has been found that 

 the amount of growth during the fall period is closely associated with the degree 

 of winter hardiness (4). 'Vernal', the standard of winter hardiness, had the least 

 fall growth, while 'Kl-10' had the most fall growth. 'Kl-10', however, 

 maintained a good stand, even after three years. This could possibly be explained 

 by the fact that none of the winters during the trial was severe enough to test for 

 winter hardiness. 'Kanza' and 'KO-6' suffered the greatest loss of stand during 

 the trial. 



Yields 



Yields by harvest are shown in Table 3. Varieties are ranked in order of 

 average 3-year, seasonal yields. Three-year average yields are shown on a 

 moisture-free basis as well as on a 12% moisture basis. Fall regrowth was not 

 included in seasonal yields. Although variable with year and variety, as much as 

 one-half ton of forage might be harvested after fall frost. Yields were higher with 

 the first cutting in 1973 than in 1974 because the first harvest was later in 1973. 

 Seasonal yields were higher in 1974 than in 1973, though, largely because about 

 one acre-inch of water was applied after both first and second cuttings. The 

 1974 growing season was one of the driest on record. Although the irrigation 

 applications were not adequate to maintain maximum yields, the water applied 

 was quite effectively utilized. The alfalfa root system was likely developed to the 

 point where moisture was being drawn from several feet below the surface. 



