Alfalfa is often considered as the “Queen of Forages” because it produces high yields that are highly digestible and high in protein. Alfalfa is a very important leguminous crop for dairy and other livestock industry in Kansas. Late summer and early fall are often the best times to plant alfalfa in Kansas due to less weed pressure than spring planting.
With the rains this spring and summer in most areas of Kansas, there may be enough moisture to achieve good stand establishment in many fields. Available moisture at planting is crucial for alfalfa establishment, but too much moisture can increase seedling disease incidence.
If soil moisture is available, growers in northwest Kansas can plant as early as Aug. 10-15. Those in southeast Kansas can plant in mid- to late-September. In other parts of Kansas, the optimal planting time is late August or early September. Producers just need to plant early enough to have three to five trifoliate leaves before the first frost.
Alfalfa is a three- to five-year, or longer, investment and therefore it is crucial to ensure proper establishment. Some producers shy away from alfalfa because of its high establishment cost and risk of stand failure. In the long run, however, it’s relatively inexpensive, if amortized over the life of the crop.
If managed properly and given favorable weather conditions, dryland alfalfa can produce 3 to 6 tons of forage per acre per year. Irrigated fields can produce 8 tons per acre per year or more.
When planting alfalfa, producers should keep the following in mind:
Purchase alfalfa varieties with a fall dormancy rating ranging from 4 - 6 for Kansas. Fall dormancy relates to how soon an alfalfa variety will stop growing in the fall and how early it will begin growing in the spring or late winter. Simply put, it would be better not buy a variety with fall dormancy of 9-10, which can be more suitable for California and regions where alfalfa can keep growing year-round under irrigation.
More information about growing alfalfa in Kansas can be found in the annual performance bulletins and the Alfalfa Production Handbook. That information also is available on the web at: www.ksre.ksu.edu/bookstore/pubs/c683.pdf
Figure 1. Alfalfa seedlings. Photo by Doohong Min, K-State Research and Extension.
Figure 2. Early bloom alfalfa. Photo by Doohong Min, K-State Research and Extension.
Romulo Lollato, Wheat and Forages Specialist
lollato@ksu.edu
Doo-Hong Min, Forages Agronomist
dmin@ksu.edu
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