Kelly-Anne Kidston
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Alfalfa, a field crop that’s quite rare among field crops, is an amazing plant. It’s a legume, which means it can fix nitrogen (meaning less nitrogen fertilizer needs to be added) as well as being one of very few perennial crops, which means it can be left in the field to grow year after year and keep being harvested. It’s roots can grow quite deep so it can be very drought tolerant. Alfalfa produces high-quality grass for livestock, making it a great choice for milk cows. Weeds can be controlled to some degree with harvesting at just the right time (before the weeds make seeds) but at some point that isn’t enough 🔥 Enter Roundup Ready alfalfa which can be sprayed with the herbicide glyphosate to control weeds while leaving the alfalfa healthy 🙈 This allows farmers to keep their alfalfa standing for longer. [1]
Assessment of the damage is the first step towards remediation. Frost heaving may occur in areas where crowns have been lifted from the soil. If the crowns are not lifted by more than an inch, they are most likely to be killed. You may even see your plants die. You should be cautious calling crowns dead Too early. Alfalfa’s crown buds were ready for spring last autumn. These buds can be damaged over the winter and the crown will need to begin again from scratch with a fresh round of buds. It may take up to 10-14 additional days for new growth. These stands that have been damaged in winter often grow very unevenly in spring. Remember that alfalfa varieties that have low fall dormancy ratings (FD) will be more likely to develop in the spring than those with higher ratings. Elektra Sousa is a big thank-you for these insights. [2]
Johan O. Johan O. Fyi.extension.wisc.edu Further information is available. You can find more information at www.plants.org. Secondary metabolites are compounds that have no other metabolic function than to protect plants from insects and diseases. Some of these chemicals inhibit growth in other species. Allelopathy refers to the creation of toxic compounds by plant species. Autotoxicity is the production of toxic chemical compounds from a plant species that can be harmful to other members. Plants produce these compounds to help “carve out” a space for themselves and reduce competition from other plants for waterYou need light, nutrients and light. Alfalfa can cause autotoxicity. Shamella Carbajal, Kuerle (China) last edited this page 15 days ago [3]
Alfalfa stands can stay productive up to 10 years. However, as plants age and become less productive, renovations are inevitable. While alfalfa is often grown with grain crops in rotation, it is also desirable to continue production in most areas. Because of potential insect pests and seedling diseases, as well as autotoxicity, it is best not to repeed Alfalfa right away after harvesting. To ensure successful establishment, a rotation interval should be established between the killing of an alfalfa stand and the reseeding of new alfalfa. Trasha Henning updated the text on July 12, 2020 [4]
Why Lucerne Lucerne, also known as Alfalfa, is different in that it produces a high yield per hectare of approximately 14t DM on its own without the use of nitrogen fertilizer. It can withstand drought. It is also drought resistant. It is a deep and extensive root system once it has been established. It is an educational experience to plow in the lucerne crop. A soil pit was used to dig a 20-foot deep hole on an old Berkshire farm. One could clearly see the roots of an lucerne crop that was already established all the way. This legume can produce high yields, even in drought. Jantzen Didoley (Leicester, United Kingdom) last edited this page 3 days back [5]
Refer to the Article
- https://biofortified.org/2011/01/what-the-heck-is-alfalfa-anyway/
- https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/managing_stand_losses_in_alfalfa_fields
- https://fyi.extension.wisc.edu/forage/seeding-alfalfa-fields-back-into-alfalfa/
- https://fyi.extension.wisc.edu/forage/understanding-autotoxicity-in-alfalfa/
- https://www.cotswoldseeds.com/articles/86/lucerne-also-known-as-alfalfa
