Alfalfa

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The alfalfa plant is a perennial. It is known to vary 1л height-from 18 inches to 3 feet. The roots of alfalfa are very long and penetrate to a great depth as compared with1 most other field crops. At the age. of 5 months the

tap root penetrates to a depth of 6 1/2 feet, and some of the jide roots are nearly as deep.

Alfalfa is used in many different ways, and no other forage crop produce*! is likoly to have so many varied uses. About 80 per cent of the crop is made into hay. The most important considerations ij determining the proper stage for cutting alfalfa for hay are: (a) yield, (b) quality of hay, (c) effect on maintenance of the stand. Early cutting provi­des hay that is leafier, and higher in protein content than later cutting, but yields of dry matter appear to be loweri Furthermore, if cut too early, the plants are weakened and the productive life of the stand is shortened. Alfalfa is also used for pasturage, silage, and making meal. Besides, it is a good permanent cover crop and frequently increases the yield of the crop that follows it.

Alfalfa is known to be grown successfully ucdur a wide range of climatic conditions, varying from extremely low winter temperatures to very high summer temperatures. But it is a dry hot climate that is most suitable, and alfalfa will not thrive in hot humid regions. Thus, alfalfa has been Xound to be mostly grown in the semiarid regions, especially where irrigation is used. A combination of high humidity, high precipitation and high temperatures is particularly unfavour­able.

We know soil requirements of this crop to have always been next in importance to4 the climatic conditions. It is essential that alfalfa should be grown on deep soils due to. the great root davelopuent, good drainage being also neces­sary. Under semiarid conditions alfalfa seeus to thrive on

nearly all soile except those, containing much alkaline ealts.

The seedbed alfalfa requires should be firm, moderately lumpy, and relatively free of weeds. As alfalfa is very sensitive to acid soil conditions, it responds to liming better than most other legumes. Applications of lime to acid soils not only Increase the yield, but hasten the activity of the nitrogen fixing bacteria as well.

Tho time of seeding depends upon several factors, and it therefore varies in different regions. Where rainfall is plentiful and soil conditions are favourable alfalfa is frequently seeded in early spring with a companion crop. When seeded alone, late spring and early summer seeding is pre­ferred.

Дата добавления: 2015-03-31