Dry matter yield and nutritive quality of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) cultivars grown in sub-humid areas in Ethiopia

Abstract

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is one of the most important perennial forage legumes with high nutritional quality. Four alfalfa cultivars were sown in randomized block design with four replications to evaluate their dry matter yield and nutritional quality under rain-fed conditions during 2016–2017 at Masha, southwest Ethiopia. Percentage of plot cover, plant height, leaf to stem ratio, dry matter yield, crude protein yield, and dry matter (DM), ash, crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), and acid detergent lignin (ADL) were measured. The combined analysis revealed that days to 50% flowering were significantly (P < 0.01) influenced by cultivar and cropping year. Dry matter yield was significantly affected by cultivar and cultivar vs year interaction. Hairy Peruvian scored the highest plot cover percentage followed by Pioneer 00407, Hunter River, and Magna 788. The overall mean for days to 50% flowering indicated that Hunter River reached more lately than others. We observed that leaf-to-stem ratio and plant height were insignificant among the cultivars. Hairy Peruvian gave a higher dry matter yield (15.0 t ha⁻¹) followed by Pioneer 00407 (12.1 t ha⁻¹), Magna 788 (11.5 t ha⁻¹), and Hunter River (10.5 t ha⁻¹). The chemical compositions did not vary significantly (P > 0.05) due to cultivar differences. It could be concluded that, of the tested cultivars, Hairy Peruvian is an appropriate cultivar for biomass production potential under rain-fed conditions for sub-humid areas of southwest Ethiopia.

Keywords:

• biomass production
• chemical composition
• Hairy Peruvian
• Masha
• Ethiopia

PUBLIC INTEREST STATEMENT

In Ethiopian agriculture, the livestock sector plays a significant role in improving the livelihood of many people, and contributes to the provision of animal source food and nutritional security. However, inadequate and seasonal fluctuated feed resources both in amount and quality are the major bottleneck problems that hinders the animal production and productivity. To solve these feed constraints, the production of high-yielding and better use of improved forage species that are adapted to the local environmental conditions are fundamental options. Among different forage species, alfalfa is one of globally well-known perennial forage legume and nutritionally recognized as high-quality forage for all classes of livestock species. Thus, this study was focused on evaluation of alfalfa cultivars both in biomass yield and nutritional qualities. The result highlighted and identified alfalfa cultivar (Hairy Peruvian) that best suited and the promising cultivar for the sub-humid areas and similar environments of Ethiopia.

Acknowledgements

The authors are highly acknowledged by the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, a forage research program in financial support for this work. The authors also would like to greatly acknowledge Holetta animal nutrition laboratory staff for their assistance in laboratory analysis and Teppi Agricultural Research Center staff for implementation and finalization of this study.

Author’s contributions

Gezahegn Mengistu, Melkam Aleme, Ararsa Bogale, and Dereje Tulu proposed the concept, performed the experiment, field data execution, and analysis, writing and editing. Mulisa Faji, Geberemariyam Terefe, and Kedir Muhammed did laboratory analysis and editing the paper.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The data set used /analyzed during the current study is available from the corresponding author on reasonable request. www.linkedin.com/in/gezahegn-mengistu-ab9492155

Additional information

Funding

This work is financially supported by the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), livestock research directorate. None of the funder was involved in data collection, analysis and interpretation or writing the paper.

Notes on contributors

Gezahegn Mengistu

Gezahegn Mengistu from Ethiopia received Bsc in Animal Science from Ambo University, followed by his MSc in Animal Production from Jimma University, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine. Since May 2014, he has been working in Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), at Teppi and Holetta Agricultural Research Centers on animal feed and nutrition, improved forage crops research activities. His research interest focuses on animal production specifically in animal feed and nutrition, conducting animal feed experimentation, forage and pasture research. His goal centered conducting research on improved forage crops to improve animal productivity through nutrition and management that will enhance livestock farm sustainability and profitability.