Alfalfa Cultivar and Agronomic Practices Affect Fodder Yield in Afghanistan.

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is the most widespread fodder and hay crop in Afghanistan. Fodder yield on-farm is, however, low due to use of low-yielding cultivars and poor agronomic practices. Fodder yield of 13 alfalfa cultivars were compared with a local variety in a randomized block design with three replications from 2005-2007 at the Poseh-Eshun Agricultural Research Station in Baghlan Province, northern Afghanistan. Farmer-participatory trials were conducted to demonstrate the effects  of phosphorus (P) and animal manure (M) application rates; and a combination of P and M application at establishment of alfalfa on fodder yield. Averaged over 12 cuts, fodder yield of the alfalfa cultivars ranged from 6.41 t/ha for variety Meldor from France to 8.57 t/ha for Aleppo-597 from Syria. Seven cultivars (Aleppo-597, CUF, Prime, Sequel, Verdor Sceptre and Legend) produced (P<0.05) more fodder than the local variety. On-farm demonstration showed that P and M (6-9 t/ha), and a combination of M and P at establishment increased alfalfa fodder yield (Table 1).  

Table 1. Alfalfa yield (t/ha) in on-farm trials in northern Afghanistan
Trial 1. Treatments	Yield1,2		Trial 2. Treatments	Yield		Trial 3. Treatments	Yield
1. Zero P kg/ha2	18.08 c		1. 3 t  M /ha2	13.7 c		1. 3 t M/ha (M) 2	12.2 b
2. 50 P kg/ha	21.83 b		2. 6 t  M/ha	16.2 b		2. M + 50 kg P/ha	16.4 a
3. 100 P kg/ha	27.40 a		3. 9 t  M/ha	17.8 a		3. M + 100 kg P/ha	17.8 a
s.e	0.525		s.e	0.46		s.e	0.46
1Mean in a column within trial with different letters differ (P<0.05). 2Farmer practice.