Compatibility of new sainfoin populations as forage mixtures with alfalfa and orchardgrass in Alberta

Abstract Sainfoin is a highly nutritious non-bloating leguminous forage crop of temperate regions. Despite non-bloating properties, its use in pastures was limited due to low dry matter yield (DMY), lack of persistence in the mixed pasture, and slow regrowth. The paradigm then shifted when new sainfoin cultivars planted in mixtures with alfalfa reduced 98% bloat incidence in ruminants. Two experiments were conducted to determine the compatibility of sainfoin with grass and alfalfa. Experiment (Exp.) I was established by drilling alfalfa cv. Longview and orchardgrass cv. Kayak with new sainfoin populations in alternate or cross-seeding rows under irrigated and unirrigated conditions in Lethbridge, AB. Exp. II was established by drilling sainfoin populations in mixture with alfalfa cultivars in alternate rows under irrigation. DMY and botanical composition (dry matter basis) were observed for both experiments. In Exp. I, monoculture orchardgrass produced the least DMY compared with the mixtures under both growing conditions and over all growing seasons. Alfalfa–sainfoin mixture yielded higher under irrigatated and less under unirrigated conditions relative to alfalfa monoculture. The percentage DMY contribution of sainfoin in alfalfa–sainfoin mixtures decreased but increased in sainfoin–orchardgrass mixtures over successive harvests under both environments. In Exp. II, we observed that new sainfoin populations mixed with alfalfa cvs. Beaver and Longview yielded greater (P < 0.05) than their corresponding monocultures and this increase was not associated with the proportion of the species in the mixture suggesting new sainfoin populations are as productive as alfalfa.