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Water Requirement and Its Association With Growth Components and Protein Content of Alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.) 1
Author(s) -
Cole D. F.,
Dobrenz A. K.,
Massengale M. A.,
Wright L. Neal
Publication year - 1970
Publication title -
crop science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.76
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1435-0653
pISSN - 0011-183X
DOI - 10.2135/cropsci1970.0011183x001000030008x
Subject(s) - cultivar , medicago sativa , biology , seedling , petiole (insect anatomy) , agronomy , forage , greenhouse , horticulture , botany , hymenoptera
Two experiments were conducted in a greenhouse environment at Tucson, Ariz., to investigate the water requirement of five cultivars and two experimental lines of alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.) at the seedling and mature stage of plant development. Another experiment was conducted to investigate differences in water requirement among genotypes within the cultivars ‘Mesa‐Sirsa’ and ‘Ladak.’ Significant differences were found in water requirement among cultivars in both the seedling and mature stages of plant development. Significant differences were found among plants of different cultivars in dry forage and transpired water in the seedling stage; however, no significant differences for these factors were found among cultivars in the mature stage of plant development. Greater variation in water requirement was found within cultivars than was found among cultivars. Dry forage production, leaflet to stem and petiole ratio, leaf area, and percentage protein of stems and petioles were each significantly associated with water requirement when averaged over all cultivars.