Influence of Land Configuration on the Proximate Composition, Amino Acid Profile, and Antinutritional Factors of Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.): Implications for Ruminant Nutrition

This study at Plateau State University, Bokkos, examined how land configuration and crop establishment methods affect alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) forage’s composition, amino acid profile, and antinutritional factors, with implications for ruminant nutrition. Using a 2 × 2 factorial design, the study tested two land configurations (flat and ridge) and two methods (broadcast and drilled), resulting in four treatment combinations (flat × broadcast, flat × drilled, ridge × broadcast, and ridge × drilled), with four replicates. Data were analyzed via factorial ANOVA at p ≤ 0.05. Land configuration significantly influenced crude protein (CP), crude fibre (CF), and ether extract (EE), with flat land yielding higher CP (23.08%) and CF (12.85%), while ridge land produced higher EE (7.88%). Establishment method notably affected EE, with broadcasting resulting in 7.55% compared with 7.15% under drilling. The interaction between land configuration and establishment method significantly impacted CF. Land configuration also affected lysine and histidine levels, while establishment method influenced leucine, lysine, isoleucine, valine, threonine, and histidine. Significant interactions were found for tryptophan and histidine. For non-essential amino acids, establishment method significantly impacted tyrosine, and land configuration × establishment interactions affected alanine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, glycine, serine, tyrosine, proline, and arginine. Land configuration also significantly affected saponin, tannin, cyanide, and total phenol, while establishment method impacted saponin, alkaloids, and total phenol. Interactions were significant for saponin, alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, cyanide, and total phenol. The findings reveal that both individual factors and their interactions influence forage quality, especially amino acids and secondary metabolites. Combining suitable land configurations and establishment methods could enhance alfalfa forage for ruminant feeding.