Show I irrigation As Related To 10 Alfalfa Seed Production o 10 oThe I The data secured from experiments in irrigation practices as related to alfalfa seed production on the Uintah Basin Alfalfa Seed Experimental Farm during the season of 1927 appear to indicate that when the plants were clipped while in the stage bud and ir irrigated irrigated ir- ir either immediately before or after clipping the yield of s aced ed was greatly reduced This is especially true of the case where the water was applied immediately after clipping Water and clipping arc both stimulants to vegetative growth and result in the production of a go good d hay crop rather than seed The general opinion prevails among growers glOwers of alfalfa seed that the growth of the alfalfa plant must be retarded if it is isto to produce seed abundantly Usually this suppression of growth may be obtained by withholding the irrigation water from the fields orby or orby orby by limiting the amount applied to one or two very light applications applications during the season The highest average yields were secured from the plants receiving no irrigation The seed from these Wants blants ants had a high purity test the shrinkage in was waslow waslow low low and the amount of vegetative growth of the plants in proportion pro- pro portion to the seed produced was only moderately heavy In general the crop obtained from receiving no irrigation those i was superior to th that obtained from any of those where water had hadJ J been applied I When irrigation water was applied the previous fall or any time during the growing season the average yield of the seed produced was was somewhat less than when no water had been applied The time of applying the water or the amount of water used did not appear to influence greatly the yield of seed except when it was applied in connection with clipping of the plants In the latter the yield was reduced greatly case The application of irrigation water at the time the flowers were In full bloom or when the pods were forming did not cause stripping stripping strip strip- ping to a very marked degree It may have prevented the formation formation formation forma forma- tion of new flowers or or pods to some degree as is shown by a lower average yield obtained from these plants as compared with those receiving no water The flowers and pods already aready formed at the time the water was applied d appeared to continue their development development development develop develop- ment th the same as if no water was applied The only conspicuous changes hanges produced by the water on these plants was the growth of weeds and a second crop of alfalfa which continued green until harvest time |