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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Madison, Wisconsin » U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center » Dairy Forage Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #409457
Research Project: Improving Forage Genetics and Management in Integrated Dairy Systems for Enhanced Productivity, Efficiency and Resilience, and Decreased Environmental Impact

Location: Dairy Forage Research

Title: Rooting traits of 12 corn silage hybrids solo-seeded and interseeded with alfalfa

Author
item MUERDTER, CLAIRE - Oak Ridge Institute For Science And Education (ORISE)
item Grabber, John

Submitted to: ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/29/2023
Publication Date: 10/29/2023
Citation: Muerdter, C., Grabber, J.H. 2023. Rooting traits of 12 corn silage hybrids solo-seeded and interseeded with alfalfa. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts. October 29-November 1, 2023.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Establishing alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) by intercropping it with corn (Zea mays L.) grown for silage improves the overall productivity, profitability, and environmental sustainability of forage production. Interseeding alfalfa immediately after corn planting favors alfalfa establishment but this practice often reduces corn growth and forage dry matter yield. A trial conducted during 2021 and 2022 under normal to dry growing conditions in southern Wisconsin, USA quantified the impact of interseeded alfalfa on the growth, silage yield, and root structure of twelve corn hybrids. Corn hybrids were planted alone or planted with alfalfa in mid-May to obtain a final harvest population near 82,000 plants per hectare. Soil moisture and corn growth characteristics were assessed near the V5, V10, and R1 growth stages. Dry matter mass per plant of corn was determined in mid-September and then root crowns were dug, photographed, and phenotyped by the Digital Imaging of Root Traits (DIRT) online platform. Above and belowground characteristics of corn were often highly influenced by year, hybrid, and interseeding main effects and interactions among these factors. In general, interseeding of alfalfa reduced soil moisture content, corn plant height, chlorophyll content, and leaf area index during the growing season, and final corn mass per plant at harvest. Interseeding primarily reduced root area and density, rooting width, and root tip counts of corn. We are currently examining relationships between above and belowground characteristics to determine if reduced growth and yield of intercropped corn is closely related to specific root traits.