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- Title
Effect of drip fertirrigation in 14 alfalfa varieties in the Mixteca region, Oaxaca.
- Authors
Morales Ayala, Joel; Jiménez Victoria, José Luis; Velasco Velasco, Vicente Arturo; Villegas Aparicio, Yuri; Enríquez Del Valle, José Raymundo; Hernández Garay, Alfonso
- Abstract
Fourteen alfalfa varieties were grown in the Mixteca region of Oaxaca with a drip fertirrigation system (DFS) and results evaluated based on dry matter production, the leaf:stem ratio and plant height. A comparison was made with a traditional gravity irrigation system (GIS) in terms of the three production parameters and water and electricity use. Seed was sown at 30 kg ha-1 using a completely random block design with four replicates. Nutrient solution in the DFS was Steiner's universal solution adjusted to the needs of alfalfa. A total of 12 cuts were done during the 22-mo experimental period at an average interval of 45 d. No significant differences (P>0.05) between varieties were observed for dry matter production /cut-1 and the leaf:stem ratio, but eight varieties had significantly greater plant height (P<0.05). The Júpiter variety had the highest yield (4.4 DM ha-1) and San Pablo Huixtepec the lowest (4.4 DM ha-1); the highest leaf:stem ratio was in the Moapa, Xoxocotlán and Etla varieties; the greatest plant height was in the Puebla 76 variety. During the hottest months, dry matter production and plant height were greatest, and the leaf:stem ratio was lowest (P<0.05). The DFS provided 50.2 % water savings, and lowered pump operation, electricity use and electricity cost by 169 % versus the GIS.
- Subjects
OAXACA (Mexico : State); MEXICO; ALFALFA varieties; WATER in agriculture; GRAVITY; IRRIGATION water
- Publication
Técnica Pecuaria en México, 2006, Vol 44, Issue 3, p277
- ISSN
0040-1889
- Publication type
Article