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Twenty four alfalfa varieties with Fall Dormancy ratings of 8 or 9 were tested in a replicated small plot trial on a heavy clay loam soil on the Safford Agricultural Center. This was the first year of a new study and there were some difficulties caused by irrigation management on the heavy soil. Pioneer 5888 was the highest yielding variety with a yield just over 9 tons per acre in 6 cuttings. Heat units with thresholds of 77 F and 40° F are included for each cutting in the study.

Fourteen alfalfa varieties with fall dormancy ratings from 6 to 9 were tested in replicated small plot trials on the Kibler farm in Stewart District northwest of Willcox. The leading variety after two year of testing was DeKalb 189 with a dry matter yield of 8 tons per acre. Heat units with temperature thresholds of 77 °F and 40 °F are given for each cutting .

This report covers the first 2.5 years of production of five alfalfa varieties (CUF 101, SW 14, SW8210, Pioneer 5888, and a grower selection originating from CUF 101 and noted as Baldwin Select) that were planted in October, 1994, into large plots (0.75 acres) to obtain actual field harvest data. Data are reported from 22 harvests thus far in the study, including five from 1997. Varietal hay yields were very similar in 1995 until mid summer, when area soil temperatures reached above 100°F at the four inch depth for a period of about 6 weeks. During the summer months of 195 -1996 Baldwin Select had significantly higher yields than other varieties tested. Statistical differences in accumulated hay yields were noted beginning in August 1995 and have continued. during 1996. Baldwin Select has the highest yielding variety each year thus far, producing 8.8% more than CUF 101, worth $233 /acre. Alfalfa varieties have been very similar in relative feed value when tested. Yellowing from Empoasca spp. leafhoppers was greatest during the 1995 -1996 winter on varieties with fall dormancy ratings of 9 or greater. Weed infestations during late summer 1996 appear to be inversely correlated with fall dormancy, for which Baldwin Select significantly higher than CUF 101.

Eight alfalfa varieties were evaluated for forage production during 1995 and 1996 following a Feb. 1995 planting. DK 189 yielded the most tonnage in both years of production (104.4% of CUF 101) and Mecca II the least amount (95.9% of CUF 101). Although five varieties had higher yields than CUF 101 during the second year of production, only DK 189 and WL 525 HQ averaged higher yields than CUF 101 for the two year duration of this study.

New alfalfa varieties are constantly being introduced into the marketplace. The number of varieties available for low-elevation desert areas in Arizona in the non-dormant and very non-dormant class is close to 50. New varieties are introduced each year and unbiased yield comparisons are helpful to the grower to base the decision of whether or not to sow a new variety. The study reported here is part of the on-going effort to evaluate alfalfa variety performance in Arizona. A summary of small grain variety trials conducted by the University of Arizona can be found online at http://ag.arizona.edu/pubs/crops/az1267.pdf.

No description available.

This study is part of an ongoing effort on evaluate alfalfa cultivar performance at various locations in Arizona. Forage yields of 25 alfalfa cultivars and experimentals were measured at the Maricopa and Yuma -Mesa Agricultural Centers. During the time period reported, many of the newer cultivars were more productive than the popular cultivar CUF 101 . Selection of alfalfa cultivars should be based upon fall dormancy, pest resistance, seed cost, and yield potential.

Ten alfalfa varieties ranging from very non -dormant to moderately dormant were tested. No statistically significant differences were seen. The highest yielding variety yielded more than seven tons per acre, considerably better than the county average of 5.5 tons per acre.

Twenty non- dormant and very non -dormant alfalfa varieties were compared over three seasons. A very non -dormant variety Pioneer 5929 yielded the most during the 1986 season, with a yield approaching 12 tons per acre in six cuttings.