Digging into Research
The optimum conditions for infection by Botrytis cinerea, the most common pathogen causing blossom blight in alfalfa in Canada, was a temperature between 15C and 20C with 12 to 24 hours of surface leaf wetness at flowering. Alfalfa seed production on the Prairies can be impacted...
Forage dry matter yields of sainfoin-alfalfa mixtures were greater than sainfoin monocultures in all trials. However, sainfoin persistence levels in alfalfa-sainfoin mixtures were less than the recommended level to eliminate ruminant bloat risk. Further agronomic studies on optimum seeding ratios of alfalfa to sainfoin, and...
Sod-seeding alfalfa to rejuvenate perennial grass pastures using currently available zero-till seeding equipment can be a successful option for livestock producers. In the thin Black soil zone of western Canada, alfalfa continued to persist nine years after seeding whether herbicides were used at establishment or...
Surveys of alfalfa seed production fields on the Canadian Prairies from 1993 to 2017 demonstrated that epidemics of blossom blight caused by Botrytis cinerea Pers. and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary developed almost every year at some locations. It appears likely that blossom blight continues...
The alfalfa weevil increased from a minor pest in 2001 to be the principal insect pest of alfalfa in 2014. Its biological control agent Bathyplectes curculionis, a parasitoid wasp, now also occurs in most areas where alfalfa weevil is found on the Canadian Prairies. The alfalfa...
Direct seeding of productive and nutritive legume species into existing pasture is considered the most attractive option for pasture rejuvenation. For high performance grazing systems, identification of suitable bloat-free legumes and methods for direct seeding into old grass and legume stands will be essential strategies. The...
Wheat yield was up to 45% higher after two years of alfalfa and up to 60% higher after two years of red clover compared to barley-flax rotations. The yield advantage carried over into the second year with up to 55% higher canola yield after the...
