Table of Contents
Managing Seeding Year Alfalfa With seeding-year alfalfa, stems are spindly, roots are small and shorter, and growth is a little slower. You can harvest seeding-year alfalfa as early as 40 days after seedlings emerge. It takes plants about 40 days to become able to regrow from the crown after cutting.
What is the best time of year to plant alfalfa?
In years with adequate rainfall, late summer or fall is typically the best time to establish alfalfa. Yields from late summer seeding are generally higher than yields from spring seeded alfalfa in the establishment year.
Does alfalfa grow back every year?
Alfalfa is a cool-season perennial commonly grown for feeding livestock or as a cover crop and soil conditioner. It’s ideal for improving the soil and providing erosion control. Alfalfa’s extensive root system nourishes both plants and soil.
How many times a year can you grow alfalfa?
After sprouting, the seedlings are relatively weak and must be protected from weeds. However, after developing a “crown,” the swollen top of the root, alfalfa plants are vigorous and can re-grow many times after the tops are cut for hay, between three and 11 times per year, depending on the area.
How long does alfalfa take to grow from seed?
Alfalfa seed germinates best at soil temperatures between 65-85°F. If soil temperature is 40°F, it takes alfalfa six days to germinate, but only two days at 65°F.
Does alfalfa reseed itself?
Alfalfa is a crop that naturally tends to lessen its density over time because alfalfa doesn’t reseed itself. Planting more alfalfa into current alfalfa fields is not recommended since alfalfa has autotoxicity characteristics. A good population/density is about 35 well-growing stems per square foot.
Can you mix clover and alfalfa?
Frosty berseem clover mixed with alfalfa can boost yields of hay by almost 30%. “Overseeding clover can bump up the protein in the hay, but you still have basically an alfalfa-based feed.” Berseem clover looks more like alfalfa than the typical red or white clover crops that many farmers are familiar with, he says.
Does alfalfa need a lot of water?
Alfalfa is a high water use crop because it has a long growing season, a deep root system, and a dense mass of vegetation. Commonly cited ranges in water requirements for alfalfa are 18 to 36 inches of water per season. Alfalfa is quite tolerant of drought or extended periods without highly available water.
How long does it take alfalfa to bloom?
Harvesting of Alfalfa During the Establishment Year The first harvest can be made before flowers begin to appear, but waiting for the alfalfa to flower will ensure greater energy reserves in the roots. Alfalfa will generally reach this stage of development between 60 and 70 days after emergence.
What kills alfalfa?
While many herbicides are available to remove alfalfa, the most popular active ingredients include glyphosate, 2,4-D, and/or dicamba. While glyphosate has no plant-back restrictions for other crops, 2,4-D and dicamba do.
How tall does alfalfa get?
Alfalfa is a perennial forage legume which normally lives four to eight years, but can live more than 20 years, depending on variety and climate. The plant grows to a height of up to 1 metre (3 feet 3 inches), and has a deep root system, sometimes growing to a depth of more than 15 m (49 ft) to reach groundwater.
How many pounds per acre do you plant alfalfa?
Seeding rates should be between 12 and 15 pounds per acre. Prescribed seeding rates are designed to provide several times the seed needed to achieve optimal yield under ideal growing conditions. Seeding rates above 15 pounds per acre have no positive impact on yield (Table 3).
How often should you cut alfalfa?
The optimal compromise for higher forage quality and dry matter yield of alfalfa is to harvest the first cutting at the late-bud to first-flower stage and to make subsequent cuttings at 32-to-35 day intervals until late August or early-September, often referred to as a “4 summer-cut system.”May 13, 2010.
How much is an acre of alfalfa worth?
In this example, the standing value for the entire alfalfa field could range from $230 to $360/acre for the entire growing season. Keep in mind ownership costs can run $300- 400/acre when the seller considers lost rent, establishment costs and top-dress fertilizer to maintain soil fertility.
Can humans eat alfalfa?
Although alfalfa is frequently used to feed horses and rabbits, it’s good for people, too. Besides consuming it as a supplement, humans eat alfalfa in the form of sprouted seeds, found in the produce section of most grocery stores. Just 1 cup of alfalfa sprouts provides the following nutrients: Calories: 7.6.
Can you broadcast alfalfa seed?
Alfalfa seed can be broadcast planted on a clean, tilled seedbed instead of planted with a drill seeder. If broadcast seeding is used, the seedbed should be firmed with a roller or cultipacker before seeding. After the seed is broadcast, it should be covered with a roller or cultipacker.
How many years will alfalfa last?
Alfalfa can remain productive in stands from four to ten years or more, but as plant population declines renovation eventually becomes necessary.
What happens if you don’t cut alfalfa?
If it stays dry those new shoots could die off. Once your alfalfa does receive enough rain for regrowth it might regrow a little faster if it’s cut, but it also will regrow following sufficient rain without cutting. In most cases, it’s not worth the cost and time involved to shred, clip, or harvest low-yielding hay.
