Abstract
Abstract Limited information is available which describes the response of established alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) to topdressing applications of K fertilizer in the Southeastern United States. Field experiments were conducted for three years to determine alfalfa response to rates and time of K application. The experiments were established in two‐year old stands of alfalfa on a Decatur silty clay loam (clayey, kaolinitic, thermic Rhodic Paleudults) and a Hartsells fine sandy loam (fine loamy, siliceous, thermic Typic Hapludults) located in northern Alabama. Potassium as KCl was broadcast in the spring prior to regrowth. For split application treatments, the K was applied in early spring and after the second cutting. Annual total K rates ranged from 56 to 596 kg/ha. Potassium fertilization maintained alfalfa stand density on both soils, but the experiment on the Decatur soil was discontinued after two years due to severe stand loss when the lowest rate of added K was used. Alfalfa yields were increased by the application of K and maximum yields occurred when K was applied according to soil test recommendations made by the Auburn University soil testing laboratory. Potassium applications increased the concentration of K, decreased the concentration of Ca and Mg and had little effect on the concentration of N in tissue from the two cuttings sampled. The split application of K did not consistently increase forage production. There was little movement of K below 25 cm in either soil when K rates of 56 to 596 kg/ha/yr were repeated yearly for up to three years.
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Claims 10
Claim · model-written summary
Potassium fertilization maintained alfalfa stand density on both soils.
- Taxon
- alfalfa
Medicago sativae0 - Treatment
- Potassium fertilizatione0
- Outcome
- alfalfa stand densitye0
- Direction
- maintainede0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Potassium fertilization maintained alfalfa stand density on both soils”
Claim · model-written summary
The lowest added K rate caused severe stand loss on Decatur soil by year two.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativat0
- Treatment
- lowest rate of added Ke0
- Outcome
- stand losse0
- Direction
- losse0
- Setting
- Decatur soile0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the experiment on the Decatur soil was discontinued after two years due to severe stand loss when the lowest rate of added K was used.”
t0“alfalfa”
Claim · model-written summary
K application increased alfalfa yield.
- Taxon
- AlfalfaMedicago sativae0
- Treatment
- application of Ke0
- Outcome
- yieldse0
- Direction
- increasede0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Alfalfa yields were increased by the application of K”
Claim · model-written summary
Maximum yields occurred at soil test recommended K rates.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativat0
- Treatment
- K was applied according to soil test recommendationse0
- Outcome
- yieldse0
- Direction
- maximume0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“maximum yields occurred when K was applied according to soil test recommendations made by the Auburn University soil testing laboratory.”
t0“alfalfa”
Claim · model-written summary
K application increased tissue K concentration.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativat0
- Organ / stage
- tissuee0
- Treatment
- Potassium applicationse0
- Outcome
- concentration of Ke0
- Direction
- increasede0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Potassium applications increased the concentration of K, decreased the concentration of Ca and Mg and had little effect on the concentration of N in tissue from the two cuttings sampled.”
t0“alfalfa”
Claim · model-written summary
K application decreased tissue Ca concentration.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativat0
- Organ / stage
- tissuee0
- Treatment
- Potassium applicationse0
- Outcome
- concentration of Cae0
- Direction
- decreasede0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Potassium applications increased the concentration of K, decreased the concentration of Ca and Mg and had little effect on the concentration of N in tissue from the two cuttings sampled.”
t0“alfalfa”
Claim · model-written summary
K application decreased tissue Mg concentration.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativat0
- Organ / stage
- tissuee0
- Treatment
- Potassium applicationse0
- Outcome
- Mge0
- Direction
- decreasede0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Potassium applications increased the concentration of K, decreased the concentration of Ca and Mg and had little effect on the concentration of N in tissue from the two cuttings sampled.”
t0“alfalfa”
Claim · model-written summary
K application little effect tissue N concentration.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativat0
- Organ / stage
- tissuee0
- Treatment
- Potassium applicationse0
- Outcome
- concentration of Ne0
- Direction
- little effecte0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Potassium applications increased the concentration of K, decreased the concentration of Ca and Mg and had little effect on the concentration of N in tissue from the two cuttings sampled.”
t0“alfalfa”
Claim · model-written summary
Split K application did not consistently increase forage production.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativat0
- Treatment
- split application of Ke0
- Outcome
- forage productione0
- Direction
- did not consistently increasee0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The split application of K did not consistently increase forage production.”
t0“alfalfa”
Claim · model-written summary
Little K moved below 25 cm in either soil at repeated application rates.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativat0
- Outcome
- movement of Ke0
- Value
- 25 cme0
- Qualifier
- 56 to 596 kg/ha/yre0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“There was little movement of K below 25 cm in either soil when K rates of 56 to 596 kg/ha/yr were repeated yearly for up to three years.”
t0“alfalfa”
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