Western Colorado Alfalfa Variety Performance Test at Fruita 2009

Calvin H. Pearson1

Summary The 2009 results of Colorado State University=s alfalfa variety performance test at Fruita are presented below in Table 1. Plots were planted during fall 2007 and data for 2009 are for the second year of the three- year testing period. Alfalfa stands are excellent and were weed free throughout the 2009 growing season. The field is furrow-irrigated using gated pipe.

Table 1. Forage yields of 16 alfalfa varieties at the Western Colorado Research Center at Fruita in 2009.1 1st cut 2nd cut 3rd cut 4th cut 2009 2-yr Variety Source/Brand May 19 June 29 Aug 4 Sept 14 Total Total2 tons/acre3 AmeriStand 444NT America’s Alfalfa 3.70 2.86 2.48 2.34 11.38 19.47 Garst 6552 Garst Seed 3.44 3.24 2.36 2.28 11.33 19.26 Mountaineer 2.0 Croplan Genetics 3.66 2.74 2.24 2.13 10.77 19.16 TS4028 Target Seed 3.61 2.80 2.25 2.24 10.89 18.89 Masterpiece JR Simplot Co 3.60 2.64 2.30 2.26 10.79 18.87 AmeriStand 407TQ America’s Alfalfa 3.66 2.81 2.32 2.17 10.96 18.74 WL 363HQ W-L Research 3.44 2.90 2.38 2.17 10.88 18.73 Garst 6415 Garst Seed 3.67 2.89 2.21 2.19 10.96 18.62 PGI 424 Producer’s Choice 3.42 2.74 2.40 2.10 10.65 18.46 Archer III America’s Alfalfa 3.26 2.87 2.52 2.16 10.82 18.37 Medalist Intermountain Farmers Assoc. 3.34 2.74 2.14 2.09 10.33 18.32 EXP6452 Garst Seed 3.38 2.70 2.36 2.11 10.55 18.10 WL 343HQ W-L Research 3.37 2.68 2.16 2.02 10.24 18.00 FSG 5285F Allied Seed 3.05 2.48 2.30 2.17 10.00 17.66 Lariat JR Simplot Co 3.40 2.62 2.13 1.98 10.12 17.51 TS4002 Target Seed 3.26 2.50 2.04 1.92 9.72 17.39 Ave. 3.45 2.76 2.29 2.15 10.65 18.47 CV (%) 5.6 8.8 9.2 7.8 5.9 3.8 LSD (0.05) 0.28 0.35 NS NS 0.24 1.01 1Seeded 20 August 2007 at 15 lbs/acre. 2The table is arranged by decreasing two-year total yield. 3Yields were calculated on an air-dry basis. The forage was green chopped and within 3-4 days after harvest the alfalfa was irrigated.

Last spring frost – April 7, 2009; first fall frost – October 2, 2009; Frost-free days for 2009 - 178 (28F base). Fertilizer: 140 lbs P2O5/acre and 30 lbs N/acre broadcast as 11-52-0 on August 16, 2007. Applied Raptor at 6.0 oz/acre plus Arrow (clethodium) at 1 pt/acre (plus 1 qt/acre crop oil concentrate and 1 gallon of URAN fertilizer in 100 gallons of water) using 22 gallons water/acre at 28 psi for weed control on 12 Mar 2009.

______1 Contact information: Colorado State University Agricultural Experiment Station, Western Colorado Research Center – Fruita, 1910 L Road, Fruita, CO 81521. Ph. 970-858-3629; Fax 970-858-0461; email: [email protected]