Effects of different harvesting times on the yield and protein content of Bami alfalfa under micronutrient foliar application in Kerman region

Application of an appropriate harvesting time in forage crops plays an important role in yield production, so that if the crop is not harvested timely, the yield decreases even in case of foliar application. Effects of different harvesting times on the yield and protein content of Bami alfalfa were investigated here under foliar application in a split-split plot experiment in time unit based on complete random block designs with four replications in Shahid Zendeh Rooh Kerman Agricultural Research Center (10 km of Jopar road) during 2013 crop year. The Bami cultivar used here was harvested in four different cuttings. The uppermost yields were respectively 6.98, 8.5, 9.3, and −10 for fresh forage, and 24.85, 29.86, and 29.4 for the dry matter. The highest leaf-to-stem ratio was obtained in the first cutting. The first and second cuttings contained the highest (29.73%) and lowest (24.85%) dry matter contents, respectively. Dry forage yield was uppermost (6 t/ha) in the first cutting. Protein levels varied in different cuttings, with the second and fourth cuttings having the highest value (18%). The interaction of Bami alfalfa in different cuttings revealed the superiority of the second cutting to the other ones. This cultivar also had the highest values in some traits among the other cuttings; as a result, Bami cultivar can be superior to other cuttings in Kerman region.