Alfalfa (Madicago setiv». L.) is. a perennial (orage crop well adapted to grow
in the newly reclaimed :>aMY 5011. This investigation was earned out in the newly
reclaimed area at West Bani Siuel Governorate (Middle Egypt) over a two-veer period
(199912000 and 200012001) to evaluate two alfalfa varieties (Local and introduced
one) for (orage yield and quality under three levels of phosphorus (15. 45, and 75 Kg
PlOslfed) and three levels ot potassium (24, 48 and 72 Kg K]O/f&d) fer1ilizaUon The
experiment set up was in a split-splil plot design with four replications, The results showed Ihat apoticatlon Df phosphorus up to 75 Kg P₁0s1(ed,
resulted in significant Increase in fresh and my yields as well as the Quality tr a us
compared witt1 the medium and lowest doses (45 and 15 Kg P₁0&l1ed, respectively).
Also data revealed thai potassium fertili.l:er had 8 significant effect on fresh alid dry
yields in addition to chernicat constituents of herbage. Application of high potassium
level (12 ~O Kglfed) was the most favorable treatment In producinq fDrage yield with
high quality. Differences coservec between the !WO varieties in yield and quality
characters were significant. Local alfalfa variety (lsmailia- j) attained superiority In
fresh and dry forage yield~ as well as protein, fiber, ash and oil yields over introduced
variety (Slriver). The potential of alfalfa forage production and its quality was h,gher
and more responsive by culLivatlng local variety (Ismailia-l) with liIe application of 75
Kg P,,05 and 72 Kg KIO Ifed.