Performance of Lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) Under semi-arid Environment. I: Effects of irrigation regime and irrigation system on fodder yield of Lucerne

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during January to August
2007, 2008 and 2009 in the Demonstration Farm of the Faculty of
Agriculture, University of Khartoum lat. 15°40 ́N. Long. 32° 32- and 380
m asl. The objectives of the experiment were to study the effect of
irrigation intervals of 8 (W 1 ) and 12 (W 2 ) days both of which received 8
mm/day and 96 mm/day respectively. In addition the efficiency of
sprinkler and drip irrigation in production of lucerne fodder under the two
irrigation intervals was evaluated. The stability or variability of fodder
yield from monthly cuts with seasonal weather changes was also studied.
The results of the experiment showed that the irrigation interval (W 1 )
consistently produced higher yield/cut in the three years. Drip irrigation
produced higher fodder yield than the sprinkler during the experimental
period at both the irrigation intervals. The yield of fodder was higher
during the cool months of January and February and declined during the
hot months of March, April and May. Further decline in fodder yield
resulted during the monsoon months of June, July and August.