North Dakota State University * Dickinson Research Extension Center
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Station Grass and Mixture Trial
Tables 8, 9, and 10 summarize the yields of the mixtures and grasses in the new Station trial seeded in the spring of 1958. This trial is similar to that being carried on at the other branch stations and at the main station in Fargo. Yields continued generally high in these plots, and probably the favorable moisture conditions at the time of seeding are still influencing yields in this trial.
Table 8 gives the 1960 yields from the grass-alfalfa mixtures, and Table 9 summarizes the 2-year average production from the mixtures included in these trials. As shown in Table 8, alfalfa only contributed about one-sixth of the average yield of all mixtures. Actually alfalfa was of major importance as a contributor to yield only in one mixture, that of Lincoln brome and Ladak alfalfa. Here alfalfa produced 1147 pounds out of a total per acre yield of 3,272 pounds. For the most part, alfalfa produced from less than one-fifth of the yield to less than one-fortieth in the mixtures.
Table 9 shows that the intermediate wheatgrass-alfalfa mixtures have produced slightly better on the basis of the 2-year averages than the other mixtures. The average production of these mixtures has been a little over 1½ tons per acre. The Russian wildrye-alfalfa mixtures have been somewhat lower producing than the other mixtures, as it would be expected from the growth habit of Russian wildrye. All mixtures together show an unusually good 2-year average production of over 2 1/4 tons.
| Table 8. 1960 Hay Yields from Station Grass-Alfalfa Mixture Trial seeded in 1958. | ||||
| Dry-weight-Lbs./Acre | ||||
| Mixtures | Grass | Alfalfa | Weeds | Total Plot Yield-Lbs., Acre |
| Nordan Crested-Teton Alfalfa | 2964 | 432 | --- | 3396 |
| Intermediate Wheatgrass-Teton Alfalfa | 3306 | 75 | --- | 3381 |
| Lincoln Brome-Ladak Alfalfa | 2095 | 1147 | 30 | 3272 |
| Intermediate Wheatgrass-Ladak Alfalfa | 3041 | 153 | 60 | 3254 |
| Lincoln Brome, Nordan Crest, Ladak Alfalfa | 2831 | 373 | --- | 3204 |
| Lincoln Brome-Teton Alfalfa | 2136 | 626 | 3 | 2765 |
| Manchar Brome-Ladak Alfalfa | 2548 | 216 | --- | 2764 |
| Russian Wildrye 2355-Teton Alfalfa | 1822 | 485 | --- | 2307 |
| Russian Wildrye 2355-Ladak Alfalfa | 1393 | 312 | 11 | 1716 |
| Average | 2460 | 424 | 11 | 2895 |
| Table 9. Two-year hay yields from Station Grass-Alfalfa Mixture Trial seeded in 1958. | |||
| Dry weight-Lbs./acre | |||
| Mixtures | 1959 | 1960 | Total Plot Yield Lbs./acre |
| Intermediate Whtgr.-Teton Alfalfa | 3144 | 3281 | 3262 |
| Intermediate Whtgr.-Ladak Alfalfa | 2818 | 3254 | 3034 |
| Nordan Crested-Teton Alfalfa | 2536 | 3396 | 2966 |
| Lincoln Brome, Nordan Crested, Ladak Alf. | 2447 | 3204 | 2825 |
| Lincoln Brome-Ladak Alfalfa | 2171 | 3272 | 2721 |
| Lincoln Brome-Teton Alfalfa | 2329 | 2765 | 2547 |
| Manchar Brome-Ladak Alfalfa | 2127 | 2764 | 2445 |
| Russian Wildrye 2355-Teton Alfalfa | 1449 | 2307 | 1878 |
| Russian Wildrye 2355-Ladak Alfalfa | 1653 | 1716 | 1684 |
| Average | 2297 | 2895 | 2596 |
The production of the straight grass seedings in the Station Trial is given in Table 10. It is apparent that the 2-year average yields of the straight grass seedings are very nearly as good as the yields of the grass-alfalfa mixtures. The 2-year average yield for all grass varieties is 2,587 pounds per acre (dry-weight) and 2,597 pounds per acre for all mixtures. It is apparent that as yet the presence of alfalfa in mixture with grasses has not contributed substantially to increased yields in this trial. The grass yields are unusually good in this trial.
Intermediate wheatgrass has been the top producer in the trial so far, with an average 2-year production of 3,152 pounds per acre. Summit crested, Lincoln brome, Southland brome, and nordan crested follow quite closely. Northern brome and Manchar brome appear to have somewhat lower average yields than the previously mentioned varieties, and slender wheatgrass and Russian wildrye are distinctly lower in average hay production than the other varieties.