Thesis (MTech (Agriculture))--Cape Technikon, 1998. / The drymatter - and animal production of nine lucerne cultivars were evaluated under dryland
conditions with SA Mutton Merino sheep at Outeniqua Experimental Farm (George).
The nine lucerne cultivars that were chosen for this experiment, were already evaluated in cutting
trials for their drymatter production. They consist of one winterdormant cultivar (Alfagraze), two
semi-winterdormant cultivars (WL 320 and Meteor), five intermediate-winterdormant cultivars (SA
Standard, Standard Tygerhoek, Aurora, Diamond and WL Southern Special) and one winteractive
cultivar (Cuf 101).
The mild climate of this area resulted mainly in a difference in drymatter production between the
most winterdormant cultivar (Alfagraze) and winteractive cultivar (Cuf 101). The only difference in the rate of production of winterdormant types appear in winter and spring. The
production rate of the winterdormant and semi-winterdormant cultivars was lower in the winter than
that of the intermediate winterdormant (WL Southern Special) and the winteractive cultivar (Cuf
101). The drymatter production of the semi-winterdormant cultivar (WL 320) was higher than that
of the winteractive cultivar (Cuf 101) in spring.
There is a seasonal difference in the drymatter production of lucerne cultivars from the same
winterdormancy class. Some of the more winterdormant cultivars also achieve a comparable and
even higher dry matter production than that of the more winteractive cultivars. This tendancy is
prominant between the semi-winterdormant cultivars (WL 320 and Meteor). WL 320 has a higher
dry matter production than Meteor. It also has a higher or equal production rate, dependant on the
seasons, than the winteractive cultivar (Cuf 101). A similar tendancy appears in the intermediatewinterdormant
cultivar (WL Southern Special). The seasonal drymatter production and production
rate of this cultivar are the same as that of Cuf 101. The appearance of annual grasses and weeds had a seasonal influence on the availability of dry
matter and animal production. The grass production increases over the years resulting in up to 20%
increase of the green matter during winter and spring. The grazing capacity of the winterdormant
cultivar (Alfagraze) has increased during this seasonal grass production.
The lucerne cultivar with the highest drymatter production rate and the highest seasonal dry matter
production, also had the highest grazing capacity. The yearly and seasonal grazing capacity of WL 320, Aurora, WL Southern Special and Cuf 101 was generally higher than most of the other
cultivars. This was also the most important reason for the high live mass increase with these
cultivars.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:cput/oai:localhost:20.500.11838/1999 |
| Date | January 1998 |
| Creators | Botha, Philippus Rudolf |
| Contributors | Loedolff, C.J., Dr |
| Publisher | Cape Technikon |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | other |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Rights | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/za/ |
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