Water management for establishment of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)

This research was carried out in 1997, at the "Centro de Ciencias Agrarias" of the "Universidade Federal de Sao Carlos", in Araras, SP Brazil, to evaluate the behavior of three growth stages (S-1 = initial vegetative stage, S-2 = full vegetative stage, and S-3 = reprodutive stage) of the "Crioula" alfalfa cultivar, in the presence of four water levels (L-1 = 100%, L-2 = 80%, L-3 = 45-50% and, L-4 = 20-25% of a sprinkler irrigation) in a field trial. Growth stages changed according to water levels, and S, stage was the most affected by water supply, while S, was the least one and water showed to be a negative factor to plant establishment.