Contribution of Stems and Leaves to the Yield and Nutrient Level of Irrigated Alfalfa at Different Stages of Development

In Roamer alfalfa (Medicago media Pers.) the nutritive value in leaves deteriorated much more slowly than that in stems. The percentage of N declined 29% in leaves and 49% in stems; percentage P declined 4% in leaves and 34% in stems, and percentage digestible energy declined 3% in leaves and 34% in stems between early leaf and late bloom growth stages. The total yield of nutrient increased rapidly to the early bloom stage, but quite slowly thereafter. Because of possible leaf loss, delayed harvesting of an alfalfa crop beyond the mid-bloom stage would not be warranted to gain yield even when only one cutting is taken.