Evaluation of Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) Varieties for Biomass Yield and Herbage Quality under Irrigation at Bakelo, North Shewa

Four alfalfa varieties were evaluated for herbage yield potential and nutritional quality under irrigation conditions at Basonawerana Wereda, Bakelo Kebele, during the 2017 and 2018 dry seasons. The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The Alfalfa varieties used in the current study were DZ554, DZ406, DZ409, and DZ552. Each variety was seeded in a single plot area of 3 m x 4 m = 12 m². NPS (Nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur) fertilizer at the rate of 126 kg/ha was uniformly applied at sowing to assess the production potential, plant height (cm), and dry matter yield (t ha^-1) of the forge and its nutrient content. The data collected were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using the general linear model procedure of the Statistical Analysis System (SAS, 9.4).  The result revealed that there is no significant difference (p > 0.05) in plant height potential among varieties at 50% flowering in the current study. Plant height ranged from 67.75 to 72.73 cm with a mean value of 70.05cm. The herbage dry matter yield per hectare obtained in this study revealed that there is no significant difference (p > 0.05) among varieties. The overall DM yield ranged from 6.23 to 7.77 t/ha with a mean value of 7.3 t/ha. All the forage quality traits (dry matter, Crude protein, Ash, NDF, ADF, and ADL) showed non-significant (P>0.05) differences between varieties. Generally, the alfalfa varieties showed no variations in terms of plant height, biomass yield potential, and nutritional quality under irrigation conditions in the study area. Hence, all tested varieties of alfalfa could be interchangeably used in the study area and similar to other conditions.