• Plant Resources
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.71-78
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• 2000

Autotoxicity restricts reseeding of new alfalfa(Medicago sativa L.) after alfalfa until autotoxic chemical(s) breaks down or is dispersed into external environments, often requiring up to a year or more. One solution for reducing autotoxicity would be to select germplasms or cultivars with tolerance to the autotoxic chemical(5) and use genetically breeding program. Bioassay of seed germination and early seedling growth was conducted to evaluate autotoxic responses of 3 varieties of alfalfa to the water-soluble extracts(at 4 and 8g/L) from alfalfa ‘Cody’leaf by using agar and filter paper medium in a petri-dish assay. Root length at 5 days after seeding was more sensitive to the extract than was hypocotyl length or seed germination, and was a better parameter of autotoxic effects of alfalfa leaf extracts. Use of an agar medium gave better sensitivity of root length than did use of filter paper. Evaluating tolerance with percent of control was more important indicator than was mean of root length because of significant variation among varieties in root length of control treatment. Bioassay ranked varieties in the following order of tolerance on the basis of relative root length; “Cody” >“ Pioneer 5373” >“ Alfagraze”. Seedling growth from old “Cody” seed was more sensitive to the autotoxic chemical(5) than was that from newly produced seed.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.11-16
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• 1999

This study was conducted to compare the dry matter intake, the digestibility, and utilization of nitrogen and energy of Korean native goats, when fed on orchardgrass(OG) mixed with alfalfa(AA) at a different levels. Experimental diets include three treatments : OG 100%, OG 80%+AA 20%, and OG 60%+AA 40%. With increasing levels of AA supplementation, the content of CP was higher for AA supplemented diets than for OG 100% diets, while the content of NDF, ADF, hemicellulose and lignin content were slightly lower for AA supplemented diets than for OG 100% diets. Also, the DM intake and the digestibility of DM, cellular constituents, NDF and ADF were higher for AA supplemented diets than for OG 100% diets, especially those were the highest in OG 60%+AA 40% diets(P<0.05). The apparently digested N, retained N and biological value of AA supplemented diets were increased with increasing levels of AA supplementation, compared with those of OG 100% diets(P<0.05). The utilization of DE and ME were slightly high in OG 60%+AA 40% diets, but there was no significant difference among all diets. According to the results, DM intake, digestibility and nitrogen utilization were improved in goat fed diets with supplementation AA(AA 20%, 40%), compared with those of OG 100% diets. But energy utilization did not show the difference among diets. Hence, It needs to provides to the adequate energy sources to goats.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.53-61
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• 1985

Effects of nitrogen incorporated with 15N-nitrogen, which was applied to grown alone and in mixture with grass and legumes of forage crops, on the yield of dry matter, total nitrogen content, percentage of nitrogen derived from fertilizer (P.N.D.F.), A-value were studied, and the results obtained are as follows: 1. With nitrogen for the yield of dry matter was highly effective only to orchardgrass and were also effect to the early stages of alfalfa and birdsfoot trefoil in case of a mixed sowing. 2. Alone and mixed sowings showed the yield of dry matter in decreasing order of alfalfa<red clover>orchardgrass>birdsfoot trefoil, and orchardgrass + alfalfa>orchardgrass + red clover>orchardgrass + birdsfoot trefoil, respectively. 3. In case of grown alone, orchardgrass gave higher percentage of nitrogen derived from fertilizer (P.N.D.F.) than legume, whereas in case of grown in mixture it was in reverse order throughout the plots. It appears likely that orchardgrass was rather supplied soil nitrogen by legume then by nitrogen application. And P.N.D.F. was getting smaller in the latter stage of all forage crops in case of grown alone. In case of grown in mixture, however, and inconsistent P.N.D.F. was obtained from orchardgrass. 4. The A-value in case of grown alone was decreased in order of alfalfa>red clover>orchardgrass>birdsfoot trefoil. In contrast, however, the A-value in case of grown in mixture wes decreased in order of orchardgasss+alfalfa (3:7)>orchardgrass+red clover (3:7)>orchardgrass+red clover (3:7)>orchardgrass+alfalfa(5:5)>orchardgrass+birdsfoot trefoil (5:5)>orchardgrass+red clover (5:5)>orchardgrass+birdsfoot trefoil (3:7).

• 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 CROP SCIENCE
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.619-628
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• 1995

Crude aqueous extracts from dried leaves, stems, roots, and flowers from both field grown and greenhouse grown alfalfa plants inhibited alfalfa seed germination and seedling growth. The degree of inhibition was greater in the field grown plant extracts. Flowers extract of field grown plant most inhibited alfalfa germination and seedling growth. In the concentration study, the highest concentration of extract (9.0%, w/v) significantly inhibited total alfalfa seed germination by 50% as compared to control. In partitioning study using pot hydroponic culture of plant biomass into leaves, stems, root, LAR products of LWR and SLA exhibited significant variation among four species. This result support that the inhibitory effect of autotoxic substances presenting in alfalfa tissue may be possible interference with the patitioning of biomass into leaf component relative to the total biomass produced by the alfalfa plant. Toxicity of extract was not reduced by adding activated charcoal, Dowex-50W, amberlite to the extract. Toxic substances existing in most plant tissues but mainly above ground foliage are water soluble and stable and may persist in old alfalfa fields. Thus, it is recommended to remove as much as possible of the above growth parts, especially vegetative stage, before one tries to re-establish alfalfa in former field of alfalfa.

• Korean Journal of Weed Science
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.131-140
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• 1995

This experiment was conducted to test the effect on germination and seedling growth of major industrial crops and weed control potential using alfalfa plant. When dried alfalfa residues were mixed into vermiculite, germination, length of shoot and root of crops, such as Perilla frutescens, Sorghum nevosum, Platycodon grandiflorum and weeds, Digitaria saguinalis, Setaria viridis, Siegesbechia pubescens, Ammaranthus lividus, and Solanum nigrum, were significantly inhibited as the dried residue concentration increased. More than 10% concentration of the dired residue caused 80% germination and growth inhibition. The fresh alfalfa exudation also inhibited the germination and seedling growth of crop, barley, rye, alfalfa, and sesame, and weeds, Echinochloa crus-galli, Siegesbechia viridis, and Portulaca oleracea. The degree of inhibition showed the different response according to the fresh exudation concentration, types of crops and weeds. Generally, as the exudation concentration increased, the germination and seedling growth of crops and weeds inhibited. The exudation of dried residue also exhibited the strong inhibition effect on germination and seedling growth of crops, alfalfa, Platycodon grandiflorum, barley, sesame, rye and weeds, D. sanguinalis, S. pubescens, S. viridis, P. oleracea, E. crus-galli, At the 10% concentrations, S. pubescens, and P. oleracea were not germinated and showed only 15% germination in the S. viridis. From this study, would conclude that alfalfa plant contained water soluble phytotoxic substances which were inhibitory to weeds and crops. This results suggest that alfalfa had some possibility to control some weed species using toxic compounds like natural herbicide.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.32 no.12
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• pp.1873-1881
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• 2019

Objective: Information regarding the vitamin content of silage is limited. This study investigated the changes in the vitamin content of alfalfa and Chinese leymus silages with or without a lactic acid bacterial inoculant. Methods: Alfalfa at the early flowering stage and Chinese leymus at the full-bloom stage were harvested. The treatments for each forage type were control (deionized water only) and $1{\times}10^6$ colony-forming units Lactobacillus plantarum (LP)/g fresh matter. After 45 days of ensiling, all silages were sampled for evaluating the vitamin content, fermentation quality and chemical composition. Results: The LP inoculant decreased the pH value and ammonia nitrogen content of the alfalfa and Chinese leymus silages and significantly (p<0.05) increased the lactic acid, acetic acid concentrations and Flieg's points. Prior to ensiling, the levels of five B-group vitamins (thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, and pyridoxine) and ${\alpha}$-tocopherol in alfalfa were significantly (p<0.01) higher than those in Chinese leymus. Ensiling decreased the levels of the five B-group vitamins in both alfalfa and Chinese leymus while increasing the ${\alpha}$-tocopherol content of Chinese leymus. The thiamin, riboflavin, niacin and pantothenic acid levels in the LP-treated silage were significantly (p<0.05) lower than those in the untreated silage for the alfalfa and Chinese leymus. The ${\alpha}$-tocopherol content in the LP-treated alfalfa silage was significantly (p<0.05) higher than that in the untreated alfalfa silage. There was no significant (p>0.05) difference in pyridoxine content between the untreated and LP-treated silages for both forages. Conclusion: With or without LP inoculation, the levels of the five B-group vitamins (thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, and pyridoxine) in alfalfa and Chinese leymus decreased after 45 days of ensiling, while the ${\alpha}$-tocopherol content of Chinese leymus increased. The LP inoculant improved the fermentation quality of both the alfalfa and Chinese leymus silages but increased the thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, and pantothenic acid loss in the two forages after fermentation.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.147-154
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• 2021

Cutting management has been identified as a critical factor in the alfalfa production systems because it has a significant impact on maximizing yield and maintaining the forage quality. The objective of this experiment was to determine the proper cutting height according to harvesting time for optimizing nutrient yield and forage nutritive quality of alfalfa grown in alpine regions of Korea. Alfalfa was sown at a seeding rate of 30 kg/ha in August 2018 and harvested at four cuttings in 2019 (3 May, 2 July, 11 September, and 13 October). Cutting heights were adjusted at 5, 15, and 25 cm above the soil surface. Alfalfa plant was tallest at the third cutting (109 cm), which was on average 35 cm taller than the first or second cutting. Relative feed value (RFV) remained unaffected by cutting height at the first harvest, but increased consistently in subsequent harvests as cutting height increased. Alfalfa collected at the first and fourth cuttings had the highest RFV (mean 152), which was on average 8 and 67 units higher than the second and third harvests, respectively. At each harvest, in vitro dry matter digestibility was highest in alfalfa cut at a 25-cm height. Dry matter (DM) production at each cutting height was highest in the first cutting, accounting for on average 36-37% of total annual DM production, and lowest in the fourth harvest, accounting for about 11-13% of the total DM yield. The total dry matter production (in four harvests) was 4,218 kg/ha higher when alfalfa was subjected to a cutting height of 5 cm rather than 25 cm. Cutting height had no effect on total crude protein yield, but from the first to fourth cutting, the protein yield followed a decreasing trend. Finally, there were visible declines in forage nutritive quality when alfalfa was cut at a shorter height. However, the magnitude of difference in total forage yield may outweigh the slight decline in forage quality when alfalfa is cut at a lower height. The findings of this study could help the alfalfa growers make better harvest management decisions.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.95-102
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• 2023

This study was to investigate the cultivation technique previously conducted cultivation research for the stable production of alfalfa and to present further research. The data used in the study were 270 alfalfa cultivation experimental data from 1983 to 2008, indicating the cultivation region, field type, variety, sowing, cutting frequency, fertilization, and dry matter yield (DMY). The average DMY of alfalfa in the Republic of Korea was 12,536 kg/ha, which differed greatly depending on the cultivated region. Most of the field type was cultivated in upland. In order to increase alfalfa production, it is necessary to use reclaimed and unused land, and research on the soil amendment matter to improve the soil condition is needed. Alfalfa varieties cultivated an amount of 53, but collected data no studies considered fall dormancy, the criteria for selecting alfalfa varieties, so further research is required. The fertilizer did not consider each component at various levels, and research is needed as the demand for fertilizer. In particular, research on potassium is needed considering the increase in alfalfa production. The alfalfa cutting frequency differed in the estimated pasture production period depending on the region, and the DMY tended to increase with increasing cutting frequency. This suggests that the alfalfa DMY can be increased according to the cutting frequency in the Republic of Korea, so research is needed to present the appropriate cutting frequency.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.161-166
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• 2020

Barley is an important cereal gain which is traditionally used in some nations of Asia and North Africa, and there has been growing interest in using barley as an ingredient in food due to their nutritional value and high content of phyto-constituents. However, no study report on comparative feed value between sprouted barley, cornflake and alfalfa hay. Therefore, in this study we aimed to evaluate the chemical composition, amino acid profile and mineral content of 6 day sprouted barley fodder (SBF) compared with cornflake and alfalfa hay using by AOAC method, as an alternative feed ingredient. Results showed that SBF had higher content of crude protein, acid detergent insoluble crude proteins and neutral detergent insoluble crude protein than alfalfa hay and cornflake; cornflake had higher crude fiber, neutral detergent fiber content than SBF and alfalfa hay; alfalfa hay had higher crude fiber, crude ash, acid detergent fiber, neutral detergent fiber and lignin level than SBF and cornflake. Also, significant differences were found on amino acid content among them (p<0.01). The most abundant amino acid in SBF was glutamate (123 g/kg DM), which is higher than in alfalfa hay (1.27%) or cornflake (1.58%). However, methionine (1.33%) and cysteine (1.53%) were the least abundant amino acids in SBF compared with cornflake or alfalfa hay. Furthermore, our study results exhibited that SBE comprise a good sources of minerals including ferrous (90.01 mg/kg) followed by zinc (20.50 mg/kg), magnesium (0.20 mg/kg) and sodium (0.03 mg/kg) as compared to cornflake and alfalfa hay. The present research findings, confirmed that the nutritional values of SBF are comparable to those of cornflake and alfalfa hay. Hence, SBF can be a better alternative feed ingredient for cornflake or alfalfa hay. However, feeding trials will be required to determine acceptability of SBF for ruminant production.