alfalfa production
DESCRIPTION
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 PresentationTRANSCRIPT
![Page 1: Alfalfa Production](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022050723/56815893550346895dc5f2e7/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
Alfalfa Production
Introduction and Evaluation
![Page 2: Alfalfa Production](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022050723/56815893550346895dc5f2e7/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
Introduction
Medicago sativa
Introduced into US 1736
Oldest cultivated forage crop
Rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals
Very high yield
![Page 3: Alfalfa Production](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022050723/56815893550346895dc5f2e7/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
Benefits
Beneficial insectsAttracts wildlifeNitrogen fixationAlfalfa replaces high N-requiring cropsAlfalfa provides N to a subsequent cropImproves Soil TilthProtect groundwater
![Page 4: Alfalfa Production](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022050723/56815893550346895dc5f2e7/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
![Page 5: Alfalfa Production](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022050723/56815893550346895dc5f2e7/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
Basics
Grown for seed,meal, cover, mostly for hayCalifornia, South Dakota, Wisconsin, & Minnesota are leading alfalfa states Alfalfa lives from 5 to 7 years
![Page 6: Alfalfa Production](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022050723/56815893550346895dc5f2e7/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
![Page 7: Alfalfa Production](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022050723/56815893550346895dc5f2e7/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
Consumers
Dairy = 60%
Meat Animals = 25%
Horses = 15%
![Page 8: Alfalfa Production](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022050723/56815893550346895dc5f2e7/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
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
![Page 9: Alfalfa Production](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022050723/56815893550346895dc5f2e7/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
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
![Page 10: Alfalfa Production](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022050723/56815893550346895dc5f2e7/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
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.
![Page 11: Alfalfa Production](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022050723/56815893550346895dc5f2e7/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
Variety Selection Factors
Yield Potential -5% improvement in yield
Stand Persistence- <5 plants/square ft.
Hardiness & Dormancy
Disease and Insect Resistance
![Page 12: Alfalfa Production](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022050723/56815893550346895dc5f2e7/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
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
![Page 13: Alfalfa Production](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022050723/56815893550346895dc5f2e7/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
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%)
![Page 14: Alfalfa Production](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022050723/56815893550346895dc5f2e7/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
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
![Page 15: Alfalfa Production](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022050723/56815893550346895dc5f2e7/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
Laboratory analyses
Dry matter (DM)
Crude protein (CP)
Acid detergent fiber (ADF)
Total digestible nutrients (TDN)
Relative feed value (RFV)
![Page 16: Alfalfa Production](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022050723/56815893550346895dc5f2e7/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
Alfalfa
Perennial
Deep rooted
Needs good soil & Good Drainage
Dormant, Semi Dormant, Non-Dormant
![Page 17: Alfalfa Production](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022050723/56815893550346895dc5f2e7/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
Alfalfa
Deep loam 8’ – 40’
Ph – 6.5 – 7.5
Level fields –
irrigation slope .2’ - .4’/100’
![Page 18: Alfalfa Production](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022050723/56815893550346895dc5f2e7/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
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
![Page 19: Alfalfa Production](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022050723/56815893550346895dc5f2e7/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
Seedbed Preparation
Heavy work Disc 2x’s with stubble disk Sub soil
Finish work Landplane 2x’s Put up borders
![Page 20: Alfalfa Production](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022050723/56815893550346895dc5f2e7/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
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.
![Page 21: Alfalfa Production](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022050723/56815893550346895dc5f2e7/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
Plant
Time Fall or Spring
Method Broadcast Drill
Depth Lightly cover
![Page 22: Alfalfa Production](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022050723/56815893550346895dc5f2e7/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
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’
![Page 23: Alfalfa Production](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022050723/56815893550346895dc5f2e7/html5/thumbnails/23.jpg)
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
![Page 24: Alfalfa Production](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022050723/56815893550346895dc5f2e7/html5/thumbnails/24.jpg)
Irrigation
Loss – wind, temperature, radiation, Humidity
ET – Evapotranspiration Rate KMJ
![Page 25: Alfalfa Production](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022050723/56815893550346895dc5f2e7/html5/thumbnails/25.jpg)
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.
![Page 26: Alfalfa Production](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022050723/56815893550346895dc5f2e7/html5/thumbnails/26.jpg)
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.
![Page 27: Alfalfa Production](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022050723/56815893550346895dc5f2e7/html5/thumbnails/27.jpg)
Diseases
A. Phytophthora – moisture related
B. Nematodes – Sandy Soils
C. Leafspot – spotted leaves
D. Anthracnose – Leaf
E. Rhizoctonia - @ crown; moisture related.
F. Fusarium – Wilt
![Page 28: Alfalfa Production](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022050723/56815893550346895dc5f2e7/html5/thumbnails/28.jpg)
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.
![Page 29: Alfalfa Production](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022050723/56815893550346895dc5f2e7/html5/thumbnails/29.jpg)
Fertilization of established stand
Spring 250lbs./ac ammonium phosphate 11-52-0 Lime
![Page 30: Alfalfa Production](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022050723/56815893550346895dc5f2e7/html5/thumbnails/30.jpg)
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%
![Page 31: Alfalfa Production](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022050723/56815893550346895dc5f2e7/html5/thumbnails/31.jpg)
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
![Page 32: Alfalfa Production](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022050723/56815893550346895dc5f2e7/html5/thumbnails/32.jpg)
Custom Harvest
Swath
Rake
Bale
Roadside
![Page 33: Alfalfa Production](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022050723/56815893550346895dc5f2e7/html5/thumbnails/33.jpg)
Yields
Tons per acre 6 to 8 tons per acre
Number of cuttings 6 to 8
Cash cost per acre