Articles
COMMERCIALLY MANAGED COLONIES OF BUMBLEBEES FOR POLLINATION OF CICER MILKVETCH
Article number
437_35
Pages
293 – 298
Language
Abstract
Cicer milkvetch, Astragalus cicer L., is a relatively new forage legume suitable for use on rangelands, pasture and disturbed land.
It is a long-lived, perennial, herbaceous legume with a vigorous, creeping root system and suitable for livestock use.
Cicer milkvetch must be cross-pollinated for optimum seed yield, although some flowers from pollinator-excluded plants produced pods and seeds.
Numerous species of bees have been identified as pollinators.
The rate of foraging by bee species from flower to flower varied; Bumblebee species foraged consistently more efficient than honey or alfalfa leafcutter bees.
Pollination by Bumblebees consistently resulted in more seeds per pod than honey or leafcutter bees.
Commercial Bumblebee colonies (Bombus occidentalis Greene) were placed on 2 fields at 2 stocking rates for 3 years.
Crop samples were taken at radiating distance from the colonies in each field.
The number of flowers/raceme for each field was similar, the % seed set, seeds/raceme, seeds/pod, and seed yield was significantly higher on the field with the higher stocking rate.
Seed yields at radiating distance from the colonies were higher in the smaller field, were higher closer to the colonies and decreased with increased distance from the colonies.
The economic feasibility of using commercial Bumblebee colonies to pollinate cicer milkvetch is discussed.
It is a long-lived, perennial, herbaceous legume with a vigorous, creeping root system and suitable for livestock use.
Cicer milkvetch must be cross-pollinated for optimum seed yield, although some flowers from pollinator-excluded plants produced pods and seeds.
Numerous species of bees have been identified as pollinators.
The rate of foraging by bee species from flower to flower varied; Bumblebee species foraged consistently more efficient than honey or alfalfa leafcutter bees.
Pollination by Bumblebees consistently resulted in more seeds per pod than honey or leafcutter bees.
Commercial Bumblebee colonies (Bombus occidentalis Greene) were placed on 2 fields at 2 stocking rates for 3 years.
Crop samples were taken at radiating distance from the colonies in each field.
The number of flowers/raceme for each field was similar, the % seed set, seeds/raceme, seeds/pod, and seed yield was significantly higher on the field with the higher stocking rate.
Seed yields at radiating distance from the colonies were higher in the smaller field, were higher closer to the colonies and decreased with increased distance from the colonies.
The economic feasibility of using commercial Bumblebee colonies to pollinate cicer milkvetch is discussed.
Publication
Authors
K.W. Richards, T.W. Myers
Keywords
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