1. Alfalfa Planting and Production Management Dr. Bruce Anderson University of Nebraska-Lincoln

3. Strengths of Alfalfa High yield potential Excellent feed value Long-lived Produces nitrogen (N) Flexible use

4. Planting New Fields of Alfalfa

7. Good Sites Fertile Well drained Deep Good moisture

8. Avoid Poor drainage High water table Saline or salty Shallow

11. 6.

13. x Lime for Alfalfa Raise pH for improved nodulation Reduce toxic Al and Mn Supply Ca and Mg Improve soil mineralization and increase P, K, and S availability

15. Soil pH & Nutrient Availability

17. Nutrients removed by alfalfa MineralLbs per ton 60 6 50 30 6 N P K Ca S

18. x Phosphorus recommendations Bray 1Interpretation Dryland Irrigated (ppm) - - - - - lb/A - - - - - 0-5Very low (VL)4060 6-15 Low (L)3040 16-25 Medium (M)2030 >25 High (H) 0 0 (P 2 O 5 )

19. P 2 O 5 (lb/A) 600

20. x Potassium recommendations Soil KInterpretation K 2 O (ppm) - - - lb/A - - - 0-40Very low (VL) 120 41-75 Low (L) 80 76-125 Medium (M) 40 >126 High (H) 0 (K 2 O)

21. Sulfur for Irrigated Alfalfa Soil ( ppm ) 6 6 - - - - - - - - - - - lb/A - - - - - - - - - - - - 0 to 5.9 4020 20 0 6 to 8 2010 0 0 >8 0 0 0 0 OM 1% Irrigation water Sulfate-S ( ppm ) Sulfate-S

22. Micronutrients BoronIronMagnesiumMolybdenumCopper

23. x Boron recommendations Soil BInterpretation Boron (ppm) - - lb/A - - 0 to 0.25 Low (L) 2 0.26 to 0.5 Medium (M) 1 >0.5 High (H) 0

24. THE SEEDBED

29. SEEDBED CHARACTERISTICS FIRM

32. Lose more plants in the first 24 hours than in the next 24 months

36. Effect of planting depth on alfalfa stand establishment Soil type Depth of planting (in) 0.51.01.52.0 - - - - - % Establishment - - - - Sand71735540 Clay52482813

38. DATE OF SEEDING April April August August

41. Variety Selection

43. Selection Criteria Yield Disease resistance Fall dormancy Winter hardiness Forage quality

44. INNOCULATION Use Proper Innoculant  Use Proper Innoculant  Store in Cool, Dry Location  Mix with Seed and Plant Soon  Nitrogen Fixation

46. Weeds

48. MOWING Effective – Broadleaf annuals and some perennials sunflowers, velvetleaf, ironweed Ineffective – Grasses, winter annuals, other perennials foxtail, cheatgrass, sandbur, curly dock, mustards, thistles

49. Cover Crops

50. Alfalfa yields using herbicides or oats to control weeds TreatmentSeeding Year 1 st Cut Next Year - - - - - - tons/acre - - - - - - Check Check.90.90 2.11 Poast Poast 1.55 2.51 Buctril Buctril 1.44 2.42 Poast + Buctril Poast + Buctril 1.73 2.14 Poast + Oats Poast + Oats 1.31 2.15 Oats as hay Oats as hay.93.93 1.99 Oats as grain Oats as grain.64.64 1.69

51. Alfalfa yields using herbicides or oats to control weeds TreatmentSeeding Year 1 st Cut Next Year - - - - - - tons/acre - - - - - - Check Check.90.90 2.11 Poast Poast 1.55 2.51 Buctril Buctril 1.44 2.42 Poast + Buctril Poast + Buctril 1.73 2.14 Poast + Oats Poast + Oats 1.31 2.15 Oats as hay Oats as hay.93.93 1.99 Oats as grain Oats as grain.64.64 1.69

53. Seedling Options Eptam Balan Trust

54. Seedling Options Eptam Balan Trust Poast Select Pursuit Raptor Butyrac Buctril Roundup

56. What about ESTABLISHED STANDS? 1 st -2 nd year may have winter annuals or summer grasses 3 rd -4 th production year begin to develop weeds as stands thin   perennial weeds and/or winter annual weeds fill in (opportunistic)   Need to determine if enough alfalfa is present to justify herbicide treatment

57. Treat or rotate crop? Treat if weedy and have: > 4 to 5 plants/sq ft > 55 stems/sq ft > 2 to 3 plants/sq ft > 35 stems/sq ft If below, consider crop rotation

58. Weed management in established alfalfa Control weeds in established stands if: Fields have adequate alfalfa density Weeds have low forage quality or impact animal health/performance Herbicides can improve forage quality, but rarely improve yield

59. Herbicides available for ESTABLISHED STANDS Many herbicides available, but   Few control perennial weeds   Winter annuals need to be applied when small or before emergence (fall to early spring)

60. Bruce Anderson Extension Forage Specialist Dept. of Agronomy & Horticulture University of Nebraska Lincoln, NE 68583-0910 402/472-6237 banderson1@unl.edu