Alfalfa forage planting time (perennial alfalfa growth cycle and temperature)

Is alfalfa a perennial forage grass?

Alfalfa is a perennial herb belonging to the genus Alfalfa in the leguminous family , and it is the earliest cultivated forage grass in the world.

Generally, alfalfa can grow to about 1 meter in height , with a semi-erect plant shape and deep roots. It has many branches per plant, thin and dense stems, and small and thick leaves, dark green, pinnate-trifoliate, and oval leaflets.

Alfalfa cultivation in my country has a long history, dating back more than 2,000 years. It is widely planted in Northwest, North China, Northeast China, Inner Mongolia, South China and other places.

Alfalfa has high yield, good quality and strong adaptability, and is currently the most economical feed crop.

In the application of breeding industry, alfalfa is a superior feed for all kinds of livestock. Whether it is used as green fodder or to make green hay for grazing, it has excellent palatability and rich nutrition.

Fresh alfalfa generally contains 3.6-4.7% crude protein, 0.7-0.9% crude fat, 3.1-11.9% crude fiber, and 7.6-10.9% nitrogen-free extract. Its young alfalfa is the best protein supplement feed for pigs, poultry and young livestock .

Alfalfa growth habits

Alfalfa can live up to 30 years, and can be used for many years after planting. The cost of planting is low. Generally, it grows most vigorously from the second to the fourth year of planting, and its productivity gradually decreases after the fifth year .

This is also due to the fact that alfalfa has a well-developed root system and a thick taproot. The general yield per mu is 2,000-4,000 kilograms , it has good palatability, and is very suitable for breeding.

Alfalfa generally takes only 25 days from sowing to harvesting , and its growth cycle is the shortest among all forage grasses.

Alfalfa can be grown in areas with an annual rainfall of 250-800 mm and a frost-free period of more than 100 days, and the most suitable temperature for alfalfa growth is 25°C . When should alfalfa be planted?

Alfalfa planting time

Alfalfa can be planted in spring, summer and autumn, but it is better to plant it in spring and autumn. Since the seeds of alfalfa can germinate when the ground temperature reaches 5-7℃, it can be sown in the early spring after the ground thaws, and the grass can be harvested 1-2 times in the same year .

If the soil moisture is poor in spring, you can sow in summer. In summer, the ground temperature is high and the alfalfa seedlings grow vigorously. In areas with strong winds and sand, it is best to sow in summer to avoid sand burying and affecting seedling emergence.

In northern regions, sowing should not be later than mid-July to avoid affecting the wintering of alfalfa . In southern regions with high temperatures, sowing should be carried out after the Beginning of Autumn .

How to grow alfalfa

1. Seed processing

The hardness rate of alfalfa seeds is 10-30%, which means that these seeds cannot absorb water, swell and germinate. They need to be properly treated before sowing to increase the germination rate of the seeds.

To increase the germination rate of seeds, you can break the seed coat by gently pressing with a roller or rubbing the seeds with coarse sand to break the seed coat. Alternatively, you can soak the seeds in warm water at 50-60℃ for 15-60 minutes before sowing.

2. Seed disinfection

Soak seeds in 1% lime water to prevent leaf spot disease of forage grass, and soak seeds in 50 times formalin to prevent ring rot.

3. Land preparation

   Alfalfa seeds are small, have weak soil-breaking ability, and grow slowly during the seedling stage, requiring the soil for cultivation to be deeply plowed.

Raking is good for seed germination and seedling growth. Apply 1500-2500 kg of decomposed farmyard manure per mu. If the soil is acidic, apply some lime. In the southern region, apply 10-20 kg of lime per mu.

4. Planting seeds

Alfalfa seeds are small and have weak soil-breaking ability. The sowing depth is generally 2-4 cm. It is mostly sown in rows with a row spacing of 40-45 cm. The sowing amount per mu is 1-1.5 kg.

5. Field management:

Generally, seedlings will emerge 6-10 days after sowing. When the plant is 5-8 cm tall, it is necessary to timely cultivate and weed to avoid weed damage. When the soil turns green every year and after each harvest, water can be irrigated and topdressed if conditions permit.

6. Harvesting and utilization:

The best period is from the appearance of the first flower to the flowering of one-tenth, when a large number of new shoots grow on the rhizomes. This is the peak period, when the nutrient content of alfalfa is high, the roots accumulate more nutrients, and regeneration is good.

If harvested before or when buds appear, alfalfa has the highest protein content and the greatest feeding value, but the yield is relatively low.

In addition, there is little nutrient accumulation in the roots, and harvesting at the highest stage will affect the regeneration ability of alfalfa and even cause the death of the plant.

If the alfalfa is harvested too late, the grass will be coarse and old, and its feeding value will be reduced. If it is harvested at the highest time, the stems will be of different ages, making it difficult to process and condition.