Alfalfa Established Successfully in Intercropping with Corn in the Midwest US

Integrating alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) with corn (Zea mays for grain will increase biodiversity, reduce the negative environmental impact of monoculture and farm profitability. The objectives this research were to evaluate forage productivity nutritive value, along stand establishment in a system Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota. experimental design was randomized complete block four replicates at each site. Treatments included were: sole (i.e., check; T1), (T2), intercropped into (T3), prohexadione-treated (T4), spring-seeded year after intercropping (T5), which planted plots T1 previous year. All sites had below normal rainfall 2016 2017. Corn yield significantly lower when (T3 T4) compared check crop (no alfalfa, T1). reduction ranged from 14.0% 18.8% (T1). biomass reduced by 15.9% 25.8%. In seeding year, seasonal greater competition absent all environments. season almost double than (spring-seeded alfalfa; T5). second production there no meaningful differences (p > 0.05) across treatments, indicating systems does not affect past first Prohexadione-calcium, growth regulator, did density, value. value dependent on harvest date treatments. Results our study suggest that establishing is feasible can be potential alternative upper Midwest region. However, under drought conditions, might less resilient since between soil moisture intensified or moisture-limited likely depress yield. Research targeted reintroduce perennial crops current dominant corn–soybean US Belt urgently needed improve stability resiliency systems.