• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.12
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• pp.1701-1704
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• 2001

The evaluation of structural carbohydrate losses and its effect on silages digestibility in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) was studied during 5, 21 and 56 days ensiling. About 70 and 60 kg fresh matter of the two forages were ensiled in 9 silos of 120 L capacity. The digestion trials were conducted in two phases using the two grasses in two $4{\times}4$ Latin square design according to the four treatments being the grass and the three silages. There were no differences in the DM and CP contents resulting from 5 to 56 days ensiling in both forages. The water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC), hemicelllose, pectin, and energy were slightly reduced and appeared lower in 56 days silage. The ether extract and cellulose contents slightly increased as the ensiling process advanced in the two species. Hemicellulose losses of 29 and 41 g/kg DM were obtained in alfalfa and orchardgrass, respectively, 56 days after ensiling. While the cellulose losses in both species were very little, compared to that for hemicellulose, the pectin losses, 56 days after ensiling were 15 and 12 g/kg DM in alfalfa and orchardgras respectively. The total structural carbohydrates lost (ie., hemicellulose + cellulose + pectin) in g/kg DM of fresh material forage ensiled, is about four fifths the amount lost by WSC, in alfalfa and about two thirds, in orchardgrass, by 21 days ensiling after the activity of microorganism terminated, indicating that appreciable amount was used as substrate for silage fermentation. Ensiling alfalfa and orchardgrass for 0, 5, 21 and 56 days maintained a decreasing trend of 83.8, 82.5, 79.3 and 78.9% digestibility in alfalfa and 80.5, 77.0, 77.1 and 76.4% digestibility in orchardgrass. While the digestibility of cellulose and ether extract increased in silage in both species, the digestible energy values in silage were reduced from 2.6 to 2.3 and 2.9 to 2.7 Mcal/kg DM respectively in alfalfa and orchard during 5-56 days ensiling.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.67-74
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• 2001

A field experiment was carried out to determine the effects of chemical/mechanical treatments at mowing on the field drying rate and hay quality of alfalfa(Medicago sativa L., cv. Vernal) and spring oats(Avena satvia L., cv. Swan). The chemical drying agent of 2% $K_2CO_3$, mechanical mower conditioning, and no treatment(control) were treated for hastening hay-making in the spring of 1997. The forages were harvested at early bloom stage in alfalfa and heading stage in oats. After field dry, square bales were made by hay baler, and the dry matter(DM) loss, visual estimation and nutritive value of hay were evaluated after storing two months. The field drying rates of alfalfa and oats were high at mechanical treatment, but the drying effectiveness of chemical agents alone was very low. With mower conditioning, the duration of field dry was shortened by 1 day compared with control. therefore, mower conditioning enhance the field drying rate of alfalfa and oats. The DM loss of alfalfa and oats hay was reduced by mechanical treatment, but the efficiency by chemical alone was low. The visual score(leafiness, green color, odor and softness) of hay at mechanical treatment was slightly higher than that of chemical and control. The nutritive value(ADF, NDF, in vitro digestibility, and relative feed value) of hay was also high with treatment of mechanical, but those of chemical alone were similar compared with control. The nutritive value of hay after two months in both alfalfa and oats was decreased when compared with at harvest.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.61-66
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• 2000

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of seed coating on germination and early growth of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schr.), orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.), and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) over sown on unploughed hilly and forested areas. Establishment and early growth of coated tall fescue and orchardgrass on unploughed hilly area were not significantly influenced by seed coating. Establishment and early growth of coated alfalfa on unploughed hilly area were higher than non-coated and showed 4.7% and 4.0 g/m2, respectively. Establishment of coated tall fescue (11.8%) on forested area were higher than noncoated (0.3%), but ealy growth of tall fescue was not significantly influences by seed coating. Establishment of over sown orchardgrass on forested area was not significantly affected by seed coating, but early growth of coated seed (18.7%) was better than that of non-coated (0.3%). Establishment of coated alfalfa on forested area were higher than those of non-coated. Results of this study indicate that the establishment and early growth of over sown tall fescue, orchardgrass, and alfalfa could be improved by seed coating.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.11
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• pp.1564-1568
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• 2005

The objective of the study was to evaluate the use of n-alkanes to estimate DM intake and digestibility by beef cattle. Six steers were blocked (3 blocks, 2 animals/block) according to the body weight (279${\pm}$19 kg) and randomly allotted within blocks to two diets (3 steers/diet). A second trial was conducted with the same animals (321${\pm}$18 kg) after 36 days (d), using a switch back design. The diets consisted of two types of chopped sun-cured hay, alfalfa (Medicago sativa L) hay, or fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb) and alfalfa mixture, which were fed in equal amounts to steers. Animals were dosed with $C_{32}$ and $C_{36}$ alkanes, employing an intra-ruminal controlled-release device at the beginning of each trial. Hay intake per animal was measured from d 6 to 12 and sub samples were taken for chemical analysis. Rectal samples of feces were taken from each animal once/daily from d 8 to 14, freeze dried, and ground prior to alkane analysis. Alkanes were extracted from ground hay and feces. Feed intake was calculated from the dose rate of $C_{32}$ alkane and, the herbage and fecal concentrations of adjacent odd ($C_{33}$ or $C_{31}$) and even ($C_{32}$) chain length alkanes. Crude Protein, NDF, ADF, ash concentrations and In vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) were 17.7, 42.2, 28.4, 7.9 and 71.7 for alfalfa, and 12.4, 56.5, 30.4, 6.9 and 69.1% for fescue/alfalfa mixture, respectively. For both diets, intake estimated from $C_{33}$:$C_{32}$ ratio was not different from the measured intake, but intake estimated from $C_{31}$:$C_{32}$ ratio was lower (p<0.05), than the measured intake for both diets. The average estimated forage intake from $C_{33}$:$C_{32}$ ratio was 4.86 and 0.69% below than the measured intake for alfalfa and, fescue/alfalfa mixed diets, respectively. The respective estimates with $C_{31}$:$C_{32}$ ratio were 9.59 and 11.33% below than the measured intake. According to these results, alkane $C_{33}$:$C_{32}$ ratio is better than alkane $C_{31}$:$C_{32}$ ratio for the estimation of intake by beef steers.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.95-100
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• 2003

The alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) callus was induced from seeds on SH medium contained $3\;mg/{\ell}$ of 2,4-D. Several regenerated alfalfa plants and many shoots were obtained by procedure of Kim et al. (1999); 1) incubation for 28~30 days on SH medium added $5\;mg/{\ell}$ of NAA and $2\;mg/{\ell}$ of Kinetin, 2) incubation for 3~5 days on SH medium added $11\;mg/{\ell}$ of 2,4-D and $1\;mg/{\ell}$ of kinetin. 3) incubation for 21~25 days on SH medium added $1.6\;g/{\ell}$ of ammonium sulfate and $5.75\;g/{\ell}$ of proline. To increase of root induction ratio on plant regeneration process of alfalfa, root induction ratio was examined on 8 kinds of medium, containing different amount of hormone and SH salt. Root induction ratio was higher on SH medium contained IBA than SH basal medium. In case 1.5 mg of IBA was added in SH medium, root induction ratio was the highest to 56.0% in this study. On the other hand, root induction ratio was higher on SH medium diminished SH salt amount to half volume and addition of IBA makes high root induction ratio, too. Thus, we conclude that the medium for root induction of alfalfa may be added $1.5\;mg/{\ell}$ of IBA and diminished SH salt amount to half volume.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.185-190
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• 1999

Autotoxic substance(s) from alfalfa(Medicago sativa L.) plants reduces germination and growth of adjacent new alfalfa after alfalfa. The autotoxic chemical(s) in alfalfa are clearly unknown. Our objective was to improve the sensitivity of an alfalfa seedling bioassay for evaluating autotoxic leaf extracts. We determined critical extract concentrations that inhibit seed germination and seedling growth, compared two different culture media, and evaluated the effects of extract sterilization on the sensitivity of the assay, by using streptomycin and autoclaving method. An agar medium in petri plate gave better responses of germination and seedling growth to the extracts than using filter paper in the plate. On agar medium, the concentration of extract required to reach 50% inhibition of root length was 2.7 g $kg^{-1}$, and of germination and hypocotyl length were 3.8 and 9.9 g $kg^{-1}$, respectively. Leaf extracts with 100 ppm streptomycin stimulated germination significantly compared to Leaf extract alone but reduced root length of control by 43%. Root length was more sensitive to the autotoxin(s) than was germination or hypocotyl length. These results suggest that agar medium mixed with extract and sterilization by autoclaving could be improved the consistency and precision of bioassay, and that root length was the best parameter of autotoxic effect of alfalfa leaf extract.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.105-111
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• 1979

This experiment was carried out to define the affinity of alfalfa varieties to nodule bacteria and the effects of nodule bacteria on the growth of alfalfa varieties. The results obtained are summarized as follows; 1. The ability of nodule formation on the roots of alfalfa was significantly different among the strains of nodule bacteria, Rhizobium meliloti SU 47 formed nodules on the roots of two alfalfa varieties, Luna and Von arnims altd bost. Nodules were not formed at the roots of all varieties by inoculation of Rhizobium meliloti M1 but a lot of nodules were formed at the roots of all varieties by inoculation of Rhizobium meliloti M14. 2. When the Rhizobium meliloti M14 was inoculated in the media, the largest numbers of nodules were formed on the roots of alfalfa cultivar Franks hangmeiler and the least numbers of nodules were formed on the roots of cultivar Elga. 3. The plant height and the dry matter weight of all alfalfa cultivars were significantly increased by inoculation of Rhizobium meliloti M14, and also those were increased by applying nitrogen, but when the alfalfa cultivars were grown on the media inoculated Rhizobium M1, the plant height and the dry matter weight of alfalfas were not increased and they were same as those grown on check media. 4. The significant correlation were not detected between the number of nodules formed on the, roots of alfalfa cultivars and the plant height or the dry matter weight of alfalfa cultivars.

• Korean Journal of Plant Tissue Culture
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.41-47
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• 1999

Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL; EC 4, 3, 1, 5) genomic clones were isolated from tomato(Lycopersicon esculentum L.) genomic DNA libraries using tomato PAL5 cDNA sequences as probes. The nucleotide sequences of tPAL1, tPAL4 and tPAL5 were compared. tPAL5 contains an open reading frame encoding a polypeptide of 722 amino acids, interrupted by a 710 bp intron in the codon for the amino acid 139. tPAL1 encodes a polypeptide of 249 amino acids which is much shorter than tPAL5 gene due to a premature stop codon and does not contain an intron. tPAL4 encodes a polypeptide of 357 amino acids, interrupted by a 305 bp intron in the codon for the amino acid 138. Premature stop codons observed in tPAL1 and tPAL4 gene produce a short polypeptide rather than a normal polypeptide (722 aa). tPALl shows 87.2% homology with tPAL4 and 85.3% homology with tPAL5 gene whereas tPAL4 showes 91.4% homology with tPAL5 at nucleotide level. In general, phylogenetic analysis showed that genes isolated from tomato, potato, and sweet potato were belong to the same group and another dicot plants such as parsley, bean, soybean, pea and alfalfa formed another group. PAL genes isolated from rice and yeast showed very low homology with other PAL genes and formed the other group.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.7
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• pp.948-956
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• 2000

The effect of high and low level of feed intakes on nutrient digestibility, nutrient losses through methane, energy and protein utilization by goats fed on alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) pellets based diets was investigated in this study. Twelve castrated Japanese goats were employed in two subsequent digestion and metabolism trials. The goats were divided into three groups, offered three diets. Diet 1 consisted of 100% alfalfa pellet, Diet 2 was 70% alfalfa pellet and 30% corn, and Diet 3 was 40% alfalfa pellet and 60% corn. The two intake levels were high (1.6 times) and low (0.9 times) the maintenance requirement of total digestible nutrients (TON). Rumen ammonia nitrogen ($NH_3$-N) level of Diet 1 was lower (p<0.001) compared to Diets 2 and 3, but the values were always above the critical level (I50 mg/liter), The pH values of rumen liquor ranged from 6.02 to 7.30. Apparent digestibility of nutrient components did not show differences (p>0.05) between the two intake levels but inclusion of corn significantly altered the nutrient digestibility. Diet 3 had highest (p<0.001) dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), ether extract (EE) and nitrogen fee extract (NFE) digestibility followed by the Diet 2 and Diet 1. The crude protein (CP) digestibility values among the three diets were in a narrow range (70.1 to 70.8%). Crude fiber (CF) digestibility for Diet 3 was slight higher (p>0.05) than that for other two diets. When alfalfa was replaced by corn, there were highly significant (p<0.001) increases in DM, OM, EE and NFE apparent digestibility and a slight increase in the CF digestibility (p>0.05). There were no differences (p>0.05) in energy losses as methane ($CH_4$) and heat production among the diets but energy loss through urine was higher for the Diet 1. The total energy loss as $CH_4$ and heat production were higher for the high intake level but the energy loss as $CH_4$ per gram DM intake were same (0.305 kcal/g) between the high and low intake level. Retained energy (RE) was higher for Diet 3 and Diet 2. Nitrogen (N) losses through feces and urine were higher (p<0.001) for Diet 1. Consequently, N retention was lower (p>0.05) for Diet 1 and higher in Diets 3 and 2. It is concluded that inclusion of corn with alfalfa increased the metabolizable energy (ME) and RE, and retained N through reducing the energy and N losses. The high level of intake reduced the rate of nutrient losses through feces and urine.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.295-305
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• 1994

Greenhouse and laboratory studies were conducted to investigate the allelopathic potential of alfalfa and vetch residues on soybean and corn using various extract concentrations (0, 5, 10, 15 and 20%, w/v) and residue rates (0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1%, w/w). Aqueous extracts of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and vetch (Vicia spp.) exhibited an allelopathic effect on soybean and corn seed germination, seedling length and weight. The degree of inhibition significantly increased as the aqueous extract concentration increased. Alfalfa and vetch 20% extracts reduced soybean seed germination, seedling length and weight by 35%, 57%, 32% and 15%, 42%, 25% respectively, when compared to control. Corn germination, seedling length and weight was inhibited by 20%, 23%, 38% by alfalfa and 19%, 18%, 35% by 20% vetch extracts. Alfalfa and vetch extracts inhibited secondary root formation and branching as the extract concentration increased. Alfalfa and vetch 20% extracts inhibited by 41% and 32% secondary root numbers, respectively as compared to control. It was found that the aqueous extract of alfalfa resulted in greater reduction in germination, seedling length and weight of soybean than that of vetch. Alfalfa and vetch 1% residue rate inhibited soybean plant height by 30% and 10%, leaf area by 31% and 23%, and dry weight by 18% and 1%, nodule number by 27% and 20% also. Alfalfa and vetch residue significantly enhanced plant height, leaf area and dry weight of corn. The maximum stimulation occurred with 0.25% and 1% of alfalfa and vetch residue rates, respectively. Plant height, leaf area, and dry weight increased by 23%, 59%, 58% and 17%, 52%, 94% with alfalfa and vetch residues of 0.25% and 1%, respectively. This study demonstrates that there is an allelopathic potential resulting from alfalfa and vetch residues on soybean growth and yield. It also suggests that these residues may affect crop growth and development due to the inhibitory or stimulatory effects of allelochemicals existing in the residue.