New Insights into Alfalfa Forage Quality Through the Research Project Qual&Medica

Abstract

The research project ‘High quality alfalfa for the dairy chain’ (Qual&Medica), led by Società Produttori Sementi and funded by Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio of Bologna and Regione Emilia-Romagna, focuses on management and genetic tools to improve the feeding quality of alfalfa forage for the dairy chain and to increase the crop profitability in hay-based farming systems. Three workpackages of the project aim to define: (i) breeding strategies to increase the crop feeding value; (ii) mowing strategies to improve hay quality; and (iii) rapid analytical tools for quality classification of harvested forages. The purpose of the fourth workpackage is to communicate the project results and provide technical support to growers that target high quality forages. Qual&Medica pays specific attention to the evaluation of genetic and environmental determinants of alfalfa forage quality parameters, such as protein and fiber fractions. These parameters are investigated in experiments under field and controlled conditions, which exploit the genotypic diversity in a wide set of varieties, landraces and advanced breeding lines. The effect of environmental and harvesting practices, and their interactions with genetic factors, are studied by applying different mowing schedules and water-stress levels on different germplasm types. This paper provides preliminary results generated by project experiments carried out in agricultural and controlled-environment experiments.