Growth and Yield of Legumes in Mixtures with Grasses on a Mountain Range

Abstract

Nine legumes, including three strains of variegated alfalfa, were planted in mixture with each of four grasses in the fall of 1950. Alfalfa A-169 was the most productive legume. In 1965 it yielded 100 lb/acre, about 35% more than cicer milkvetch or Ladak alfalfa and 160 lb/acre more than sickle milkvetch or Rhizoma alfalfa. Siberian alfalfa was clearly inferior to all the above. Flat pea, birdsfoot trefoil, and perennial vetch disappeared from the plots early in the study. Intermediate and crested wheatgrasses were more productive than smooth brome, both in combination with legumes and as pure stands. The highest yielding plots in 1965 were those originally sown to mountain brome. This short-lived grass afforded less competition to the legumes which became well established prior to invasion by crested and intermediate wheatgrass or smooth brome grass. The use of a legume with the grass, on the average, increased production by 144 lb/acre.