Nectar secretion, pollination and seed set in several varieties of lucerne

In all the 5 varieties studied, the first flowering was the better, resulting in higher numbers of pollinating insects (generally about twice as many honeybees as on the second flowering), and better seed set. Seed yields were much higher than from the second flowering, e.g. from one variety the yield was 449.8 kg/ha at first cut, and only 71.3 kg/ha at the second.P.