THE EFFECT OF COMPANION CROPS AND HERBICIDES ON ECONOMIC RETURNS OF ALFALFA-BROMEGRASS ESTABLISHMENT

In moist regions and under irrigation in western Canada, there may be an economic advantage to using companion crops in forage establishment . Economic returns of establishing a mixture of alfalfa (Medicago sati va L.) and bromegrass (Bromus spp.) were determined with and without a companion crop of barley grain and silage (Hordeum vulgare L.) and wi th and without post-emergence herbicides at Westlock, Alberta under dr yland, and with and without a companion crop of soft white spring whea t (Triticum aestivum L.) and with and without post emergence herbicide s at Lethbridge, Alberta under irrigation conditions. The yearly econo mic benefit of companion crops was greater on irrigation than on dryla nd ($15 to $27 ha(-1)), higher for companion crops harvested for silag e than for grain ($55 to $75 ha(-1)), and was dependent on the price o f forage and grain. On dryland with medium product price levels, econo mic returns were 100% higher for a barley silage companion crop, and w ere 14% lower for a barley grain companion crop than without a compani on crop. At high hay prices, returns for the barley silage companion c rop were 5% higher than without a companion crop. On irrigation, the y early economic returns with a companion crop were higher ($23 to $139 ha(-1)) than without a companion crop. The use of post-emergence herbi cides had no long-term economic benefit for forage establishment and r educed yearly net returns $13 ha(-1) on dryland and $41 ha(-1) on irri gation.