Table of Contents
Alfalfa can be planted in either spring or fall. Make spring seedings usually March 15 to April 15 in prepared seedbeds after danger of late freeze has passed. Fall seedings the most common in Oklahoma are planted August 20-September and 20 need 6 to 8 weeks to germinate and grow before the first freeze.
Does alfalfa grow well in Oklahoma?
Alfalfa will be most productive in deep, well-drained soils. In Oklahoma, the ideal soil for alfalfa is a sandy, silt, or clay loam greater than 25 inches deep with a slope less than 2 percent. Alfalfa needs soils capable of supplying 6 inches of available water for each ton of hay produced.
What is the latest date to plant alfalfa?
If you have land available for alfalfa in late summer, optimal seeding dates are July 15 through August in the Upper Midwest; closer to July 15 for northernmost regions. For growers in warmer climates, seeding into early September is acceptable.
How long does alfalfa take to grow?
Managing Seeding Year Alfalfa With seeding-year alfalfa, stems are spindly, roots are small and shorter, and growth is a little slower. You can harvest seeding-year alfalfa as early as 40 days after seedlings emerge. It takes plants about 40 days to become able to regrow from the crown after cutting.
When should I plant alfalfa?
Spring alfalfa should be planted from early April to early May. The month of choice for planting spring alfalfa is April. The crop can be planted into May in irrigated situations. While planting alfalfa in the fall increases the amount of forage produced the first year, planting alfalfa in the spring is less risky.
Where does alfalfa grow best?
When growing alfalfa, choose an area with plenty of full sun. Also look for a well-draining area with a soil pH level between 6.8 and 7.5. Prior to planting you should clean the area, work the soil, and remove any debris. Pure alfalfa seed can be purchased from most feed supply stores.
Can you broadcast alfalfa seed?
Alfalfa seed can be broadcast planted on a clean, tilled seedbed instead of planted with a drill seeder. If broadcast seeding is used, the seedbed should be firmed with a roller or cultipacker before seeding. After the seed is broadcast, it should be covered with a roller or cultipacker.
Can you plant alfalfa with a grain drill?
Grain drills, equipped with small-seed attachments, can accurately meter alfalfa seed. However, it is difficult to place the seed at the proper depth. When using a grain drill, it is a common practice to disconnect the drop tubes from the shanks to allow the seeds to fall onto the soil surface.
How much does it cost to plant 1 acre of alfalfa?
Establishment Costs. For this study, the cost is $966 per acre or $48,300 for the 50 acres. The alfalfa stand establishment cost is amortized over the 3-year stand life.
Will alfalfa reseed itself?
Alfalfa is a crop that naturally tends to lessen its density over time because alfalfa doesn’t reseed itself. If population density is very low then a grower could consider planting a new field or interseeding with other species/grasses to improve the current crop.
What happens if you don’t cut alfalfa?
If it stays dry those new shoots could die off. Once your alfalfa does receive enough rain for regrowth it might regrow a little faster if it’s cut, but it also will regrow following sufficient rain without cutting. In most cases, it’s not worth the cost and time involved to shred, clip, or harvest low-yielding hay.
Does frost seeding alfalfa work?
Alfalfa does not frost seed well because its germination is variable at cool temperatures. There are several benefits to adding legumes to pastures including higher quality forage as well as nitrogen to support grass growth.
How often does alfalfa need to be replanted?
Recommended intervals of six or twelve months were most frequently reported, but the range was two weeks to 24 months. Many respondents commented that their most common recommendation was to reseed alfalfa after rotation with a non-legume crop grown for one or more seasons.
Does alfalfa need a lot of water?
Alfalfa is a high water use crop because it has a long growing season, a deep root system, and a dense mass of vegetation. Commonly cited ranges in water requirements for alfalfa are 18 to 36 inches of water per season. Alfalfa is quite tolerant of drought or extended periods without highly available water.
Do you plant alfalfa every year?
You can do that most easily by sowing and cutting a “stand” of alfalfa each fall, treating it as an annual. It’s more involved, but also possible to plant alfalfa as a perennial source of mulch and compost, or to cut some for those purposes and then work the rest into the soil.
What do you plant before alfalfa?
No-till planting. First, spray the growing grass sod with a non-selective herbicide. Second, no-till plant an annual forage crop, such as winter wheat or rye, to smother regrowth of any grass sod or break-hard sod. Third, harvest winter annual forage crops. Fourth, spray herbicide before planting alfalfa.
Is growing alfalfa profitable?
Alfalfa is a major profit center on most dairy farms. Annual yield has the largest impact on its profitability because inputs, including harvesting costs, change little as yield increases.
