Some factors affecting the establishment and early growth of lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) on Manawatu sand country : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Agricultural Science in Plant Science at Massey University

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dc.contributor.authorMorton, Jeffrey Donald
dc.date.accessioned2018-08-29T00:59:30Z
dc.date.available2018-08-29T00:59:30Z
dc.date.issued1974
dc.description.abstractThe thesis reports two experiments carried out during 1973-74 The field experiment studied the establishment and growth up to one year of two varieties of lucerne (Wairau and College Glutinosa) at three spacings (2.02cm., 9.16cm. and 15.22cm. in 15cm. rows) on two soil types (Puke Puke black sand - plain, and Motuiti sand-dune) and an intergrade near Taikorea in the Manawatu sand country. From sowing in April, 1973 to December, 1973 soil moisture tension at 10cm. and 30cm. depth was higher in the Kotuiti sand than in the Puke Puke black sand with the intergrade being intermediate. From December, 1973 to April, 1974 high soil moisture tension at 90cm. remained low for all three soil types for the duration of the experiment. The water table rose from May, 1973 to September, 1973 and fell from September, 1973 to April. 1974. Both soil moisture tension and water table were controlled by rainfall. Wairau had a significantly higher percentage establishment than College Glutinosa in the first 110 days after sowing but these differences were not apparent one year after sowing. Plants spaced at 15.22cm. had a significantly higher percentage establishment than plants spaced at 2.02cm. or 9.l6cm., 110 days after sowing. This difference appeared to be associated with damping-off by pathogenic fungous species. Plants spaced at 15.22cm. and 9.l6cm. had significantly higher nodule dry weights and nodule dry weights per unit plant dry weight than plants spaced at 2.02cm. College Glutinosa plants had significantly higher root weights than Wairau plants. On Motuiti sand, plants had significantly higher nodule dry weights and nodule dry weights per unit plant dry weight than plants on the other two soil types. Lucerne dry matter production was significantly higher at 2.02cm. than at 9.16 or 15.22cm. spacing During January, 1974, dessication of many plants occured and these plants exhibited root damage apparently caused by white fringed weevil (Grapognathous leucoloma Boh.) larvae. Subsequent investigations showed that the number of dessicated plants per unit area was greater in Motuiti sand than in the intergrade than in Puke Puke black sand. A similar trend was observed in the number of white fringed weevil larvae per unit area. A glasshouse experiment was set up to investigate the mortality of lucerne seedlings (Variety: Wairau) from 8 to 14 weeks after sowing in Motuiti sand under two moisture regimes (10% and 20% of dry soil weight) with three populations of white fringed weevil larvae (22, 44 and 88 larvae/m² ). It was shown that there was a significantly greater plant mortality at 10% M.C. than at 20% M.C. Furthermore at 10% M.C., surviving plants in plots with a population of 22 larvae/m² had significantly higher root dry weights than plants in plots with population of 44 and 88 larvae/m² .It was concluded that at high soil moisture tensions, damage by white fringed weevil larvae was more critical to the survival of the lucerne plants.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10179/13646
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherMassey Universityen_US
dc.rightsThe Authoren_US
dc.subjectNew Zealand Manawatuen_US
dc.subjectSandy soilsen_US
dc.subjectAlfalfa Growthen_US
dc.titleSome factors affecting the establishment and early growth of lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) on Manawatu sand country : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Agricultural Science in Plant Science at Massey Universityen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
massey.contributor.authorMorton, Jeffrey Donald
thesis.degree.disciplinePlant Scienceen_US
thesis.degree.grantorMassey Universityen_US
thesis.degree.levelMastersen_US
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Agricultural Science (M. Agr.Sc.)en_US
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