The effect of melliferous bee (Apis mellifera carnica poll) and mechanical means on seed yield, yield components and quality of alfalfa seed (Medicago sativa L)

Abstract

Number of alfalfa pollinators in free pollination was investigated as well as effect of measures that promote pollination alfalfa (using sugar syrup and mechanical means). In first year of investigations, with higher precipitation, higher number of others pollinators (80,8) then honeybees (45,6) on alfalfa field was determined. In second year, there were much more honeybees (139,5) then all others alfalfa pollinators (12,37). Pollination improvement with sugar syrup had positive effect on seed yield and seed yield components since by this way more seeds were obtained compare to free pollination and by using mechanical means. Highest seed yield was obtained with sugar syrup (44,90 gm-2), with mechanical improvement of pollination 40,74 gm-2 and in free pollination 30,41 gm-2. As for yield components pollination improvement gave better results compare to free pollination. Pod setting and number of seeds per pod were especially significant compare to control. There were no statistically significant differences between free pollination and improved pollination for seed quality components (mass of 1000 seeds, energy of germination and germination ability).

Keywords

• alfalfa pollination
• honeybee
• seed yield
• seed yield components
• seed quality