THE IMPACT OF USING LEAFCUTTING BEES (Megachilidae hymenoptera) WITH DIFFERENT FERTILIZATION TREATMENTS ON ALFALFA SEED PRODUCTION

Alfalfa, Medicago sativa (L, 1753), one of the most important forage crops in the world; leafcutting bees which belong to Family Megachilidae are very promising pollinator of Alfalfa is USA and Canada. Different lefacutting natural nests were discovered in Ismailia (east part of Egypt). Artificial polystyrene foam nests were used for bees nesting; it is easy to manage and handle it in alfalfa fields. Different fertilization treatments were carried out for testing their impact on alfalfa seed production in the presence of artificial nests. The seed production depends basically on the pollination of leafcutting bees (tripping mechanism) more than fertilization treatment; we found no significant differences between different fertilization treatments. It is highly recommended to use phosphorus and potassium fertilizers during the blooming season synchronized with leafcutting bees.