Establishment and First Year Yield of Interseeded Alfalfa as Influenced by Corn Plant Density and Treatment with Prohexadione, Fungicide and Insecticide

Interseeding alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) into a silage corn (Zea mays companion crop can increase the yield and profitability of forage production reduce risk nutrient soil loss from cropland, but unreliable establishment hampers adoption this practice on dairy farms. This study evaluated plant survival, foliar health, dry matter yields two varieties when established in sown at populations ranging about 47,500 to 100,000 plants per ha?1 treated with prohexadione (PHD), PHD followed by fungicide insecticide (PHD-FI), or not agrichemicals. The density during was adversely impacted above average precipitation high populations, substantially improved PHD-FI treatment, which limited etiolation, disease, defoliation. First-cut dry-matter interseeded after were maximized stand approximately 200 m?2 850 stems total first year exceeded conventionally spring-seeded 59 75%. Overall, our results indicated that treatment promoted good subsequent alfalfa. Applications must, however, be fine-tuned, additional management practices must developed ensure both reliable alfalfa, especially wet growing conditions.