Productivity of alfalfa varieties in the Valley of Mexico

Abstract

Alfalfa is one of the most important legumes worldwide and is the most used in the feeding of dairy cattle in Mexico. The objective of this research was to analyze productive parameters of commercial alfalfa varieties with cut-off intervals defined seasonally in Campo Experimental del Colegio de Postgraduados, Montecillo, Estado de México. The varieties evaluated were Aragón, Valenciana, Chipilo, Milenia, and Oaxaca. The variables evaluated were growth rate, light interception, leaf area index, and plant height. Milenia and Aragón, with 57 kg DM ha^-1 d^-1 and 40 kg DM ha^-1 d^-1, recorded the highest and lowest growth rate, respectively. The variety with the highest light interception was Milenia, with an average of 84%. In the five varieties of alfalfa, there is a positive relationship between light interception, growth rate, leaf area index, and plant height. Due to its production qualities, it is recommended to use the Milenia variety in the Valley of Mexico.