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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Morris, Minnesota » Soil Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #102657
Title: EFFECT OF MAIZE YIELD ON BIOMASS PRODUCTION OF THREE INTERSEEDED LEGUMES

Author
item Olness, Alan
item LOPEZ, DIAN - UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
item Rinke, Jana
item SWENSON, DAN - UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
item MATTSON, NEIL - UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

Submitted to: Agronomy Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/4/1999
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Production of legume biomass of legumes interseeded in maize depends on a combination of energy sources such as water, light, and nutrients. Yields of maize reflect the relative pressure or competitiveness for the various energy sources. A replicated field study was used to evaluate the effect of maize yield on biomass production of 3 legumes, hairy vetch (Villa vilosa L.), medic clover (Medicago lupulina L.), and nitro alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), that had been interseeded at tasseling time. Maize was topped at the R-5 growth-stage (hard dent) to increase light intensity to the legume crop. Vetch yields averaged about 784 kg per ha and showed no change as the maize yield increased from 4 to 12 Mg per ha. Alfalfa and medic yields decreased at the rates of 0.1 and 0.3 Mg per ha per Mg of Maize yield, respectively. Production of medic clover appears superior to that of vetch and nitro alfalfa when maize yields were < 9.5 Mg per ha. Yields of vetch were superior to those of nitro alfalfa and medic clover when maize yields were > 9.5 Mg per ha. Medic clover appeared to have the largest potential biomass yield in the absence of competition by maize.