PJB-2011-69
CROP GROWTH IN EARLY SPRING AND RADIATION USE EFFICIENCY IN ALFALFA
M. AKMAL1*, UZMA FARID2, M. ASIM3, FARHATULLAH4 AND RAZIUDDIN5
Abstract
The study was conducted at Agronomy Research Farm, KP Agricultural University Peshawar. Fifteen alfalfa lines (M. sativa L.) were compared for crop growth rate (CGR), biomass yield and radiation use efficiency (RUE). The previous year experiment was defoliated on 13th March 2006 at ground levels about 5 cm height. Fertilizer to the crop was applied every year in 1st week of March to yield 30, 60, & 30 kg ha-1 N, P, & K, respectively after defoliation. Periodic samples were harvested from one meter row length at two locations and oven dried at 70OC for about 36 h. Before samples, periodic leaf area index (LAI) was recorded with LI-2000 (LI-COR, USA) and subsequently light measurements were made using data logger (LI-1400, LI-COR, USA) and light sensors LI-190 and LI-191 (LI-COR, USA). The CGR showed variation in shapes and asymptotes for the different alfalfa lines which resulted differences in both fresh and dry matters yield at final sampling harvest. Alfalfa line Gramma-2 was the highest in dry matter yield (110 g m-2) followed by Flewish-pop (107 g m-2). Alfalfa line Pumha with 74 g m-2 was the lowest in dry matter yield. Differences were observed in LAI (p
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