The alfalfa weevil (Hypera postica) is an important pest that causes significant damages to alfalfa crops, reducing yield and quality, but there’s a solution. This research had two main goals to evaluate the efficacy of insecticides available in Korea for alfalfa weevil control and to provide data for pest management studies. The experiment, conducted from 2023 to 2024 at the National Institute of Animal Science in Cheonan, Republic of Korea, included four treatment plots: control (CON), early-occurrence (EAR), mid-occurrence (MID), and late-occurrence (LAT). It also included two frequency plots with primary and secondary insecticide using 50% fenitrothion emulsion, which made it truly comprehensive study. The primary insecticide was applied at the first observation of the alfalfa weevil larvae, with subsequent secondary applications at specified intervals. The results showed that two-times insecticide applications significantly reduced larvae populations and increased yield and nutrient content compared to a single application. Specifically, control rates ranged from 94 to 94.7% on the third day after treatment and from 72.2 to 93.4% on the seventh day. Plots with two applications had higher yields and crude protein content. The study concluded that the timing and frequency of insecticide applications are critical to maximizing alfalfa yield and quality, emphasizing the importance of optimized application strategies for effective pest control.

This study was conducted to determine the optimal spring seeding dates for alfalfa yield and feed value. The experiment was conducted annually for three years (2021~2023) at the field in the Department of Animal Resources Development, NIAS, located in Cheonan. The treatments involved six seeding dates ranging from February 24 to April 14, with 10days intervals. Alfalfa was harvested four times a year at the early flowering stage. Dry matter yield showed a tendency to decrease with delayed the seeding date. However, depending on the climatidc condisions in the seeding year, the dry matter yield on March 14 or 24 was comparable to that on February 24. Annual dry matter yield varied, influenced by the daylight conditions each year. The average feed value did not significantly differ within in the same year with delayed seeding dates (p>0.05). Therefore, the most stable period for alfalfa spring seeding in the central area of South Korea is considered to be from February 24 to April 4, with February 24 indentified as the optimal date.

Iron (Fe) is a vital element for plants and other organisms, involving in several physiological processes including respiration, chlorophyll biosynthesis, and photosynthesis. Unfortunately, how Fe accumulation regulates in response to light quality has not been well established in plants. Therefore, the aim of the study was to explore the mechanism of Fe homeostasis by light quality. In this study, we found morpho-physiological attributes were significantly improved in response to blue (λmax: 450) compared to white (λ max: 500) and red (λmax: 660) light. The root-shoot length, plant biomass, photosynthesis efficiency (Fv/Fm) and leafgreen (SPAD) significantly declined in response to white and red light. However, these parameters were improved and iron deficiency was substantially alleviated by blue light exposure in alfalfa seedlings. This study might be useful to the forage breeders and farmers for improving alfalfa yield and nutritional benefits.

Silicon (Si) has the potential to improve plant growth and stress tolerance. The study aimed to explore Si-involving plant responses and molecular characterization of different Si-responsive genes in alfalfa. In this study, the exogenous supplementation of Si enhanced plant growth, and biomass yield. Si-acquisition in alfalfa root and shoot was higher in Si-supplemented compared to silicon deficient (-Si) plants, implying Si-acquisition has beneficial on alfalfa plants. As a consequence, the quantum efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fm) was significantly increased in silicon-sufficient (+Si) plants. The quantitative gene expression analysis exhibited a significant upregulation of the Lsi1, Lsi2, Lsi3, NIP5;1, and NIP6;1 genes in alfalfa roots, while BOR1, BOR4, NIP2, and NIP3 showed no significant variation in their expression. The MEME results further noticed the association of four motifs related to the major intrinsic protein (MIP). The interaction analysis revealed that NIP5;1 and Lsi1 showed a shared gene network with NIP2, BOR1, and BOR4, and Lsi2, Lsi3 and NIP3-1, respectively. These results suggest that members of the major intrinsic proteins (MIPs) family especially Lsi1, Lsi2, Lsi3, NIP5;1, and NIP6;1 genes helped to pass water and other neutral solutes through the cell membrane and those played significant roles in Si uptake and transport in plants. Together, these insights might be useful for alfalfa breeding and genome editing approaches for alfalfa improvement.

This study aimed to examine the changes in dry matter yield and growth characteristics of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) in response to variations in sowing dates during the autumn season of 2021-22 in a dry paddy field of Chilbo-myeon, Jeongeup-si, Jeollabuk-do. Treatments comprised four sowing dates at 10-day intervals, i.e., October 8, October 18, October 28, and November 8, 2021. The winter survival rate of alfalfa showed a significant difference between different treatments but was at a satisfactory level for all (p<0.05). The winter survival rate for the fourth sowing date, a month later than the first sowing date, was approximately 11.7% lower than that for the first sowing date. The plant height ranged between 82.3–93.1 cm and 60.5–63.7 cm at the first and second harvest, respectively, smaller at the second harvest than at the first harvest. The total dry matter yield of alfalfa was the highest at 13,316 kg/ha for the first sowing date, and the later the sowing date, the lower the dry matter yield. The protein content of alfalfa ranged between 13.6–17.3% in the first harvest, lower than the standard alfalfa protein content of 20% or more. In relative feed value, the first sowing (Oct. 8) was the most significantly higher in the first harvest (p<0.05). These results suggest that the early and mid-October sowing dates are optimum for sowing alfalfa during autumn and result in improved plant growth, dry matter yield, protein content, and winter survival compared to those at later sowing dates. Therefore, dry paddy fields can be safely employed for alfalfa cultivation with sowing dates in early and mid-October during autumn.

This study was conducted to examine the dry matter yield and weed control of alfalfa according to postemergence herbicides treatment during spring seeding alfalfa. The seeding time of alfalfa was April 21, 2021, the seeding amount was 20 kg/ha, and the seeding method was by 20 cm wide. The alfalfa harvest was carried out at the early bloom stage (10% of flowering), and the harvest date was June 29, 2021. The test treatments were non herbicide (NH), hand weeding (HW), herbicide 1 (Trifluralin, H1), herbicide 2 (S-metolachlor, H2), herbicide 3 (Alachlor, H3), and herbicide 4 (Pendimethalin, H4). Alfalfa plant height was significantly highest in H2 (62.1±1.4 cm) followed by H3 (61.7±1.6 cm), HW (58.5±1.0 cm), H1 (57.2±1.3 cm), H4 (56.1±1.3 cm), and NH (54.1±1.2 cm) (p<0.05). Based on HW, H2 and H3 were high and H1 and H4 were short, but NH was significantly shorter than HW and H1~H4 (p<0.05). The dry matter yield of alfalfa in NH, HW, H1, H2, H3, and H4 were 717.2±94.2, 2,613.8±254.1, 1,667.8±94.1, 2,498.3±120.2, 2,435.0±118.3, and 1,793.7±354.3 kg/ha. HW is the highest among them (p<0.05). The feed composition of alfalfa was 22~24% of the dry matter yield, and the CP content were significantly higher in NH (23.6 %) (p<0.05). The NH had higher (p<0.05) NDF and ADF, but RFV was lower (p<0.05). The weed plant height was NH 98.0±3.3cm, HW 73.3±1.7 cm, H1 91.9±1.5 cm, H2 53.3±5.8 cm, H3 81.4±3.5 cm and H4 96.6±2.2 cm, and H2 was significantly smallest in the group (p<0.05). The weed dry matter yield was NH 4,770.4±232.5 kg/ha, HW 316.3±91.9 kg/ha, H1 2,353.4±173.7 kg/ha, H2 114.5±10.2 kg/ha, H3 752.7±440.6 kg/ha and H4 2,220.6±775.6 kg/ha. The weed control value was HW 94.1%, H1 53.5%, H2 98.2%, H3 84.9%, H4 48.7%, the weed value of H2 is similar to weed control value of HW. Considering the above results, postemergence herbicide treatment controlled weeds by more than 50% compared with no treatment, and among herbicides, H2 (S-metolachlor) was found to be on a similar level to hand weeding.

본 연구는 객토를 한 간척지에서 석고시용 수준이 알팔파의 수량과 사료성분에 미치는 영향을 알아보고자 수행하였다. 실험장소는 간척한지 17~33년 경과된 석문간척지로서 약 70 cm 정도 객토한 토양이었다. 객토에 사용한 흙은 섬토양의 제염을 하지 않은 것 이었다. 처리는 석고를 시용하지 않은 0 ton/ha 구(G0), 석 고를 2 ton/ha(G2) 및 4 ton/ha(G4) 시용한 구로 하였다. 수확은 알팔파가 개화초기(개화 10%)에 도달할 때 1차 수확하였으며 이 후 수확은 약 35일 간격으로 수확을 하였다. 알팔파의 건물수량은 1차 년도는 G2가 G0와 G4보다 유의적으로 높았으며 2차 년도는 처리간 유의적인 차이는 없었으나 G2가 G0와 G4보다 높은 경향을 보였다. G2에서 알팔파의 건물수량이 높은 이유는 토양의 pH 및 EC가 각각 재배가능 및 재배적합 수준이었고 피복도 및 알팔파 식생비율도 높은 것에 기인하였다. 1차 및 2차 년도 모두 석고 처리 간 CP, NDF 및 ADF 함량 및 RFV는 차이가 없었다. 한편 1차 및 2차 년도의 연구결과를 통해서 알팔파 건물수량에 부정적인 영향을 주는 요인은 봄의 가뭄과 여름의 집중된 강수로 나타났다. 이상으로부터 객토 간척지에서 석고 처리는 알팔파의 건물수량을 높이는데 효과적인 것으로 판단되며 2 ton/ha이 적정 수준인 것으로 사료된다.

The objective of this study was to access the effect of climate and soil factors on alfalfa dry matter yield (DMY) by the contribution through constructing the yield prediction model in a general linear model considering climate and soil physical variables. The processes of constructing the yield prediction model for alfalfa was performed in sequence of data collection of alfalfa yield, meteorological and soil, preparation, statistical analysis, and model construction. The alfalfa yield prediction model used a multiple regression analysis to select the climate variables which are quantitative data and a general linear model considering the selected climate variables and soil physical variables which are qualitative data. As a result, the growth degree days(GDD) and growing days(GD), and the clay content(CC) were selected as the climate and soil physical variables that affect alfalfa DMY, respectively. The contributions of climate and soil factors affecting alfalfa DMY were 32% (GDD, 21%, GD 11%) and 63%, respectively. Therefore, this study indicates that the soil factor more contributes to alfalfa DMY than climate factor. However, for examming the correct contribution, the factors such as other climate and soil factors, and the cultivation technology factors which were not treated in this study should be considered as a factor in the model for future study.

우리나라에는 알팔파의 야생종이 자생하고 있으나 이에 관해 조사 연구되어 발표된 결과는 거의 없다. 그러므로 대구지역에 자생하는 알팔파의 생육특성, 건물수량 및 사료가치 분석을 통하여 목초화 가능성을 밝히고저 하는 것이 본 시험의 목적이다. 야생 알팔파와 'Vernal' 품종을 1995년 봄에 경북 경산의 계명문화대학 사료작물포장에 파종하였다. 출현율은 'Vernal'이 야생 알팔파보다 우수하였으며 개화기는 야생 알팔파가 8일 늦었다. 재생력은 'Vernal'이 야생 알팔파보다 우수하였으며 마지막 예취 (9월 22일)이후 야생 알팔파는 거의 재생되지 않았으나 'Vernal'은 재생력이 우수하였다. 잡초율은 야생 알팔파가 'Vernal' 보다 높았으며, 건물수량은 'Vernal'이 야생 알팔파보다 유의하게 (P<0.05) 높았다. 조단백질, ADF 및 NDF 함량은 1 및 2차 예취때는 품종간에 차이가 없었으나 3차 예취시는 조단백질 함량은 야생 알팔파가 약간 높은 경향이었으며 ADF와 NDF 함량은 낮은 경향을 보였다.

This experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of liming, manure application, and inoculation with Rhizobium on the early growth, nodulation, seedling establishment, winter survival, and forage yield and quality of alfalfa(Medicago sativa L.)

본 시험은 alfalfa파종시 겉뿌림 및 다른 파종방법들이 alfalfa의 생육. 건물수량.조단백질 생산량 및 잡초발생에 미치는 영향을 구명하고자 겉뿌림, 겉뿌림+갈퀴질, 겉뿌림+갈퀴질+쇄압, 경운+산파+쇄압 및 경운+조파+쇄 등 5개 처매구를 두고, 1988년 9월부터 1989년 10월까지 축산시험장 초지시험포에서 수행되였으며, 결과를 요약하면 다음과 같다. 1.경운방법으로 6개월후에 토양산도와 토양의 매화학적 특성은 개선되었다. 2 알팔파의 정착개체

Changes in dry matter yield, crude components, nutrients uptake(P2O5, K2O, CaO, MgO) and sulphur containing amino acid(cysteine, methionine) of orchardgrass(Dacty1is glomerata. L) and alfalfa(A4edicago sativa. L) by gypsum application(as sulphur so