• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
• /
• v.39 no.3
• /
• pp.148-152
• /
• 2019

Soil acidity or alkalinity are serious limitations for crop production. The purpose of this study was to clarify the negative effects of extreme pH stress (low and high) on alfalfa vegetative growth (VG) and biomass accumulation (BA). Two-week-old alfalfa seedlings were exposed to different pH (4.0, 4.5, 7.0, 8.0 and 8.5, respectively) levels for 72 hours. Alfalfa grown at pH 4.0 and 8.5 significantly reduced VG and BA, wherein as neutral pH (7.0) comparably exhibited better growth and biomass yield. These results indicate that extreme acidic or alkaline level are critical limiting factors for growth and biomass yield in alfalfa.

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

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

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.155-158
• /
• 1999

Alfalfa grows wild in some parts of Korea, but specific information is lacking as to its growth characteristics, nutritive value and dry matter yeild. The objective of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of wild alfalfa(Medicago sativa L.) as a forage. Wild alfalfa and 'Vernal' were field sown at Keongsan, Keongbuk in the spring of 1995. Emergence for 'Vernal' was better than for wild alfalfa. It was observed that the flowering date of the wild alfalfa was delayed by 8 days. Regrowth of 'Vernal' was better than that of the wild alfalfa at each harvesting. After the last harvesting date, September 22, there was poor regrowth of the wild alfalfa, but regrowth of 'Vernal' was moderately vigorous growth. Weed infestation in the wild alfalfa plots was higher than in the 'Vernal' plots. Thle dry matter yields per hectare were significantly(P<0.05) higher for 'Vernal' than for the wild alfalfa. The CP content was slightly higher in the wild alfalfa in comparison to 'Vernal'. NDF and ADF contents were lower in the third cut, but they were not different in the 1st and 2nd cuttings.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
• /
• v.39 no.3
• /
• pp.285-294
• /
• 1994

Dried top and root extracts of seven different weed species, fresh top and root extracts, and various concentrations of extract (0, 5, 10 and 15%, W/V) and residue rate (0.0, 0.25. 0.5, 0.75 and 1.0%) of velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti Medic.) were used to study their allelopathic effects on alfalfa in the laboratory and greenhouse. Top and root aqueous extracts of common lambsquarter (Chenopodium album L.), giant foxtail (Setaria faberii Herrm), redroot pig-weed (Amaranthus retroflexus L), velvetleaf, large crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis L), canada thistle (Cirsium arvense L.) and prostrate knotweed (Polygonium aviculare L.) significantly inhibited germination, seedling length, weight, and vigor in alfalfa. Top growth extracts of weeds exhibited greater allelopathic effects than root extracts. Alfalfa test species, WL-320, responded significantly different to the various weed species extracts in terms of allelopathic effect. The regression slopes of various top extracts showed significant variation with respect to germination percentage. Velvetleaf (b=3.69) extracts were the most inhibitory, while large crabgrass (b=2.39) extracts had the least allelopathic effect on alfalfa. When compared the activity of fresh velvetleaf extract to that of dry velvetleaf extract, dry extract was more inhibitory to alfalfa germination and seedling growth. Germination, seedling length and weight of alfalfa were inversely proportional to the concentration of dried velvetleaf extracts. Seedling emergence and survival percentage was inhibited by velvetleaf residue mixture treatment. Also, more of the toxic effects were observed from the dried top extracts, as compared to extracts from fresh top and root. These results demonstrate the allelopathic activity of different weed species extracts and suggest that weeds may affect crop growth and development due to the inhibitory effects of allelochemicals present in weed tissue.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
• /
• v.27 no.6
• /
• pp.1865-1869
• /
• 2018

This study examined the effects of alfalfa seed germination on growth of Salmonella enterica. We investigated the population changes of S. enterica during early sprout development. We found that the population density of S. enterica, which was inoculated on alfalfa seeds was increased during sprout development under all experimental temperatures, whereas a significant reduction was observed when S. enterica was inoculated on fully germinated sprouts. To establish a model for predicting S. enterica growth during alfalfa sprout development, the kinetic growth data under isothermal conditions were collected and evaluated based on Baranyi model as a primary model for growth data. To elucidate the influence of temperature on S. enterica growth rates, three secondary models were compared and found that the Arrhenius-type model was more suitable than others. We believe that our model can be utilized to predict S. enterica behavior in alfalfa sprout and to conduct microbial risk assessments.

• Plant Resources
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.116-121
• /
• 2005

Compositae plants are known to contain biologically active substances that are allelopathic to agricultural crops as well as weed species. Aqueous or methanol extracts and plant residues from leaves of Xanthium occidentale were assayed against alfalfa (Medicago sativa) to determine its allelopathic effects, and the results showed that the extracts applied onto filter paper significantly inhibited seed germination as well as root growth of alfalfa. Aqueous leaf extracts of $40g\;L^{-1}$ were completely inhibitory on root growth of alfalfa, while root growths of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and soybean (Glycine max L.) were less sensitive. Leaf residue incorporation at $100g\;kg^{-1}$ into soil on seedling growth of barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus-galli Beauv. var. oryzicola Ohwi) inhibited both shoot and root fresh weights of barnyard grass by 94 and $96\%$, respectively. Methanol extracts from BuOn and EtOAc fractions of X. occidentale reduced alfalfa root growth more than did those from hexane and water fractions. The results based on bioassay of extracts and residues show that X. occidentale had potent an allelopathic activity against other plant species.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
• /
• v.40 no.5
• /
• pp.619-628
• /
• 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.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
• /
• v.39 no.3
• /
• pp.153-157
• /
• 2019

Salicylic acid (SA) is an essential plant growth regulator that functions as a signaling molecule in plants. The purpose of this study was to clarify how the exogenous application of SA counteracts aluminum stress-induced growth and biomass yield reduction in alfalfa exposed to aluminum (Al) stress. Two-week-old alfalfa seedlings were exposed to a combination of $AlCl_3$ ($0{\mu}M$, $50{\mu}M$ and $100{\mu}M$, respectively) and SA (0.1 mM) for 72 hours. We observed, Al stress-induced plant growth inhibition and forage yield reduction are Al stress-dependent manner. A significant reduction of plant height (42.0-52.9%), leaf relative water content (13.0-21.4%), root length (35.4-48.7%), shoot fresh weight (31.2-25.9%), root fresh weight (15.4-23.3%), shoot dry weight (12.7-22.2%), roots dry weight (47.3-53.5%), were observed in alfalfa. In contrast, SA alleviated the Al-stress and enhanced growth and biomass yield in alfalfa. This study provides useful information concerning the role of SA that counteracts aluminum stress-induced growth and yield reduction in alfalfa.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
• /
• v.13 no.4
• /
• pp.274-277
• /
• 1993

We investigated the effects of applications of various levels of lime(0, 250, 500 and 1,000 kg/10a) and phosphate (0, 17 and 34 kg/10a) on growth and nitrogen fixation of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Effects of lime and phosphate applications were significantly different on dry matter (DM) weight of each part and on acetylene reduction activity (ARA) of alfalfa at 9 weeks alter sowing (p<.05). The effect of lime on DM of shoot and root was not significantly different at 14 weeks after sowing (early bloom stage), but that of phosphate on DM was significantly improved as increasing of phosphate levels (p<.01). The effects of lime and phosphate on ARA were significantly increased (p<.05). Application of lime and phosphate decreased total nitrogen (TN) content of each part of alfalfa at 9 weeks after sowing (p<.05). The effects of lime application on TN was higher but that of phosphate application on TN was lower than no application of lime or phosphate at 14 weeks after sowing (p<.05).