
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Gramshaw, D 
A1  - Lowe, KF 
A1  - Lloyd, DL 
T1  - Effect of cutting interval and winter dormancy on yield, persistence, nitrogen concentration, and root reserves of irrigated lucerne in the Queensland subtropics
JF  - Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture
JO  - Aust. J. Exp. Agric.
Y1  - 1993
VL  - 33
IS  - 7
SP  - 847
EP  - 854
KW  - 
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1071/EA9930847 
N2  - The use of fixed interval or growth stage (crown bud elongation) cutting management for lucerne was studied for cultivars with dormancy characteristics ranging from highly winter-active to winter-dormant. Fixed cutting intervals ranged from 3 to 8 weeks and were imposed on irrigated stands in a subtropical environment. Persistence, dry matter yield, weed yield, nitrogen (N) concentration and yield, and root reserves were measured over a 2-year period. For cultivars from all dormancy classes, persistence was highest with either 5- or 6-weekly cutting, while dry matter yield was maximised with 5-weekly cutting. Nitrogen concentration was highest with 3-weekly cutting but N yield was greatest under 4-weekly cutting. Root reserves were not maintained unless the cutting interval was extended beyond 7 weeks. Growth stage cutting produced equivalent yields and persistence but lower N concentrations and root reserves than the best fixed interval cutting treatment. There was no evidence that cultivars of different dormancy classes require different cutting management to obtain optimum performance. Therefore, a fixed cutting frequency of 5 weeks throughout the year is an acceptable management compromise for all lucerne cultivars, combining high dry matter and N yields with acceptable levels of foliar N and root reserves. Although the more complex management decisions associated with growth stage cutting appear unwarranted, dry matter yield could be maximised by using a flexible cutting schedule which matched cutting interval with growth rate (4 weeks in summer and 7 weeks in winter). 
ER  -

