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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 - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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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 insectsAttracts wildlifeNitrogen fixationAlfalfa replaces high N-requiring cropsAlfalfa provides N to a subsequent cropImproves Soil TilthProtect groundwater
Basics
Grown for seed,meal, cover, mostly for hayCalifornia, 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 legumeGrow about 3 ft.high & compound leavesStems 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 summerCut 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 (49-52%)Poor- full to late bloom very coarse very little leaf TDN (<49%)
Laboratory analyses
Quality Designations:
Relative Feed Value Acid Detergent Fiber Crude Protein
RFV ADF CP
Supreme Over 180 Under 27 .22 or over
Premium 150-180 27-29 .20-.22
Good 125-150 29-32 .18-.20
Fair 100-125 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 levelBorders 100’ – 200’ wide (Border Machine)Pre-plant fertilizer = 6-20-20, 9-19-0, 11-46-0Pre-plant Herbicide = incorporated – eptan, balan. Established – Karmex, treflan
Seedbed Preparation
Heavy work Disc 2x’s with stubble disk Sub soil
Finish work 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 Broadcast Drill
Depth Lightly cover
IrrigationProblems = 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’
IrrigationTotal for season 4’-5’
Timing 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 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%
HarvestingSwather cost
Curing time Depends on weather
Raking Types 41/2 to 5 mph Lube every 50 – 75 hours
Baling 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