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In situ Estimation of Alfalfa Forage Yields 1
Author(s) -
Burzlaff D. F.,
Ham G. L.,
Kehr W. R.
Publication year - 1973
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj1973.00021962006500040034x
Subject(s) - forage , medicago sativa , metre , agronomy , in situ , yield (engineering) , environmental science , capacitance , grazing , fodder , mathematics , chemistry , materials science , biology , physics , astronomy , metallurgy , organic chemistry , electrode
An electronic capacitance meter to estimate yields of forage in situ was developed and tested at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. Use of this type of measurement leaves vegetation in a relatively undisturbed state with a potential for successive sampling at the same location. The forage meter permits estimation of growth rates over short periods of time as well as forage consumption under grazing. Prediction equations were developed for use of the machine in estimating first‐ and second‐cutting alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.) yields. Yield predictions of alfalfa varieties were obtained with the capacitance meter and compared to data obtained by conventional harvest procedures. The results indicated that yields of first‐ or second‐cutting alfalfa can be estimated by use of an electronic capacitance meter. Correlation coefficients (r) of .80 for first‐cutting and .73 for second‐cutting were obtained for estimating alfalfa yield in situ as compared to conventional harvesting procedures.