Alfalfa Production
By: Kelsey Schaben
Alfalfa Anatomy
- Legume
- Starts to germinate pretty much right after it is planted
- Temperature of soil should be around 65*F - Shouldn't be under 35*F or over 104*F
- Seed starts to germinate when the seed absorbs moisture
- Some alfalfa seeds are missing a coat - Hard seed
- Hard seed can take months to years before it germinates
Vegetative Stages
- Stage 1 - Early vegetative, stem is under 6 inches
- Stage 2 - Mid-vegetative, stem is 6-12 inches
- Stage 3 - Late vegetative, stem is over 12 inches (no buds)
- Stage 4 - Early buds, 1-2 visible buds
- Stage 5 - Late buds, over 3 visible buds
- Stage 6 - Early flower, 1 open flower
- Stage 7 - Late flower, 2 open flowers
- Stage 8 - Early seed pods, 1-3 seed pods
- Stage 9 - Late seed pods, over 4 seed pods
- Stage 10 - Ripe seed pods, brown and mature seed pods
Planting Alfalfa
- Perennial
- Plant in a sunny area
- Well-drained with a pH level between 6.8 and 7.5
- In cooler climates alfalfa should be planted in spring
- Mild climates should plant in fall
- Plant seeds by sprinkling evenly a half inch deep
- Plant rows 18-24 inches apart
- Begin to sprout after 7 to 10 days
- When the purple blooms start to show, it's time to mow and till into soil
Top Crop States
- Arizona
- California
- Idaho
- Nevada
- Oregon
Harvesting Alfalfa
- Usually harvested twice a year
- Don't harvest during wet or rainy weather
- Using for livestock feed - should be harvested at early-bloom stage (before flowers)
- Harvest between 60 and 70 days after emergence
- Should be harvested before September 1st, latest mid-October
Pests
- Alfalfa Weevil - lay eggs causing holes in leaves
Treatments - Insecticides when necessary
- Stem nematode - cause plant to rot
Treatments - animals
Uses of alfalfa
- Animal feed
- Vitamins
- Fossil fuels
- Alfalfa sprouts (salad)
- Protein
Interesting Facts
- ALFALFA CAN LAST 25 YEARS IN THE FIELD
- ALFALFA IS THE OLDEST KNOWN PLANT TO BY USED AS LIVESTOCK FEED
Sources
"Northeast Region Certified Crop Adviser (NRCCA) Study Resources."Certified Crop Advisor Study Resources (Northeast Region). N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Apr. 2015.
"Growing Alfalfa – How To Plant Alfalfa." Gardening Know How. N.p., 12 Aug. 2010. Web. 28 Apr. 2015.
"Forages: Topics." Forages: Topics. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2015.
"Alfalfa Weevil." Alfalfa Weevil. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2015.
http://alfalfa.ucdavis.edu/IrrigatedAlfalfa/pdfs/UCAlfalfa8289GrowthDev_free.pdf