Transcript Alfalfa Production

Alfalfa Production
Introduction and Evaluation
Introduction
Medicago sativa
Introduced into US
1736
Oldest cultivated
forage crop
Rich in protein,
vitamins, and minerals
Very high yield
Benefits
Beneficial insects
Attracts wildlife
Nitrogen fixation
Alfalfa replaces high
N-requiring crops
Alfalfa provides N to a
subsequent crop
Improves Soil Tilth
Protect groundwater
Basics
Grown for
seed,meal, cover,
mostly for hay
California, South
Dakota, Wisconsin, &
Minnesota are leading
alfalfa states
Alfalfa lives from 5 to
7 years
Consumers
Dairy = 60%
Meat Animals = 25%
Horses = 15%
Plant Biology
Alfalfa is a legume
Grow about 3 ft.high
& compound leaves
Stems grow from buds
on crown (base)
Racemes.
Alfalfa roots 25-30
feet or more under
favorable conditions
Types of Alfalfa
Hardy northern part
of the US and in
Canada.
Medium hardy are
raised mainly in the
central United States.
Nonhardy thrive on
irrigated land in the
Western United States
Growing Alfalfa
Flourish in fertile,
well-drained soil that
is neutral or slightly
alkaline
Plant in early spring or
late summer
Cut after the plants
begin to produce
flower buds, but
before the seed pods
form.
Variety Selection Factors
Yield Potential -5%
improvement in yield
Stand Persistence<5 plants/square ft.
Hardiness & Dormancy
Disease and Insect
Resistance
Visual evaluation
Stage of maturity-maturity at harvest
influences quality more than any other factor.
Leafiness-contain highly digestible energy and
at least two-thirds of the protein found in hay.
Color-bright green is a good indicator of proper
curing, good palatability.
Foreign material-weeds and straw have little or
no feeding value
Odor and condition
Designations
Premium-Prebloom stage low fiber, high
energy/protein TDN (54% and higher)
Good-Early bloom stage, low to medium fiber,
high protein and energy TDN (52-54 %)
Fair-Mid-late bloom coarse texture TDN (4952%)
Poor- full to late bloom very coarse very little
leaf
TDN (<49%)
Laboratory analyses
Quality Designations:
Relative Feed Value
RFV
Supreme
Over 180
Premium
150-180
Good
125-150
Fair
100-125
Acid Detergent Fiber Crude Protein
ADF
CP
Under 27
.22 or over
27-29
.20-.22
29-32
.18-.20
32-35
.15-.18
Laboratory analyses
Dry matter (DM)
Crude protein (CP)
Acid detergent fiber
(ADF)
Total digestible
nutrients (TDN)
Relative feed value
(RFV)
Alfalfa
Perennial
Deep rooted
Needs good soil & Good Drainage
Dormant, Semi Dormant, Non-Dormant
Alfalfa
Deep loam 8’ – 40’
Ph – 6.5 – 7.5
Level fields –
irrigation slope .2’ - .4’/100’
Seedbed
Laser level
Borders 100’ – 200’ wide (Border
Machine)
Pre-plant fertilizer = 6-20-20, 9-19-0,
11-46-0
Pre-plant Herbicide = incorporated –
eptan, balan. Established – Karmex,
treflan
Seedbed Preparation
Heavy work


Disc 2x’s with stubble disk
Sub soil
Finish work

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Landplane 2x’s
Put up borders
Plant
September and sprinkled up
Brillion seeder
25-30 lbs./ac
15 lbs./ac = 64 plants/sq. ft.
25 lbs./ac = 107 plants/sq. ft.
35 lbs./ac = 150 plants/sq. ft.
45 lbs./ac = 193 plants/sq. ft.
Plant
Time

Fall or Spring
Method
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
Broadcast
Drill
Depth

Lightly cover
Irrigation
Problems = Too Soon
Too Much
Too Little
Too Late
Alfalfa will extract:
46% of its water from the top 2’
26% of its water from the top 2’-4’
18% of its water from the top 4’-6’
10% of its water from the top 6’-8’
Irrigation
Total for season

4’-5’
Timing
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
1st. Irrigation critical
1st. Choice is no irrigation before 1st.
Cutting
Number of irrigations

Depends on the number of cutting and
weather conditions
Source of water

Ditch water or well water
Irrigation
Loss – wind, temperature, radiation,
Humidity
ET – Evapotranspiration Rate KMJ
Pests – Egyptian Alfalfa Weevil
1. Alfalfa caterpillar
2. Army worm
3. Aphids
4. Alfalfa Weevil (Hypera postica)
5. Egyptian Alfalfa Weevil( Hypera
Brunneipennis)
Different Species but almost identical in
most respects.
A. Thrive in cool spring weather
B. Adults lay eggs in the stem
C. When the eggs hatch, the larvae emerge
and begin feeding on the leaves.
D. So. Calif. & Arizona - Feb to April
E. No. Calif. – March to May
F. Weevils generally affect 1-2 cuttings
G. Parasitic wasp (Bathyplectes curulionis)
H. Furadan – Permit & gets bees
I. Lorsban – non permit & doesn’t bother
bees.
Diseases
A. Phytophthora – moisture related
B. Nematodes – Sandy Soils
C. Leafspot – spotted leaves
D. Anthracnose – Leaf
E. Rhizoctonia - @ crown; moisture
related.
F. Fusarium – Wilt
Weed control in established
stand
Main weeds


Fiddle neck, chickweed, foxtail, groundsel,
Malva, curly dock, ect..
Control

Depends on the time of year and type of
weed.
Fertilization of established
stand
Spring
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
250lbs./ac ammonium phosphate 11-52-0
Lime
Harvesting
24-35 Days ( depends on the farmer)
Re-growth of shoot and maturity.
Swather – windrows
Rake – 55% - 65% moisture
Bale 17% - 23%
Cured – 10% - 12%
Harvesting
Swather cost
Curing time

Depends on weather
Raking
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Types
41/2 to 5 mph
Lube every 50 – 75 hours
Baling
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Big bale
Small bale
Moisture
Custom Harvest
Swath
Rake
Bale
Roadside
Yields
Tons per acre

6 to 8 tons per acre
Number of cuttings

6 to 8
Cash cost per acre