Alfalfa Plot Location, Preparation, Maintenance and Replanting
Alfalfa requires a little more planning and care prior to and after
planting than other food plot forages. Here are some basic tips to
growing a
healthy alfalfa food plot.
Plot Location
Drainage: Alfalfa, in general, does not tolerate
wet-natured ground. It prefers well-drained soil. Well-drained sites
can be
just about any soil type that is on a slight angle where water drains
quickly; a hilltop; sandy soil that drains easily and quickly; or any
other
location that simply does drains well.
Sunlight: Alfalfa prefers sites that receive a significant amount of direct sunlight – 5 hours per day or more. Alfalfa can
grow in shadier locations, but the plants may not be as productive.
Soil Depth: Alfalfa excels in deep soils. The
deeper the soil, the deeper the roots go, and the more drought tolerant
the
plot will be. Alfalfa roots can go more than 10 feet deep if the soil is
deep enough. Alfalfa is naturally a desert plant from the Middle East.
A rocky, shallow soil is not a good site for alfalfa. With deep soil,
alfalfa will grow from the Gulf Coast states all the way to Canada. Try
to select
sites that have a soil depth of at least a couple feet.
Plot Preparation
Soil pH: After you have selected an adequate
plot site, get a soil test as soon as possible to determine soil pH and
fertilizer
requirements. Alfalfa is very sensitive to soil pH. It needs a pH of
6.5-7.5. If your soil pH is low (which is common for the eastern U.S.),
apply the
recommended amount of lime at least four months before planting, as it
takes many months for lime to dissolve. Several tons of limes per acre
is a
common application.
Planting: When it is time to plant, work the
soil up thoroughly and then pack the soil with a roller or cultipacker
(if desired,
Roundup can be applied two or more weeks in advance to kill "junk" in
the plot). Broadcast the seed and then roll the plot again. Alfalfa seed
should
planted about ¼-inch deep. There are other methods to successfully
plant alfalfa. The broadcast seeding rate for alfalfa is 20 lbs/acre (a
50-lb bag
plants 2 ½ acres).
Fertilizer: Fertilizer can be spread the day of
planting or several weeks before. Minimal nitrogen will be needed, but
alfalfa
does need phosphorous and potassium. Refer to your soil test for exact
fertilizer needs. If you don’t take a soil test, apply a minimum of 50
lbs of
phosphorous and 100 lbs of potassium per acre per year (that
recommendation is very low for many soils). A soil test may reveal you
need less or more
fertilizer than the above recommendation. As a legume, alfalfa produces
its own nitrogen.
Boron: Alfalfa also needs a certain amount of boron. Refer to your soil test to determine if you need to add boron to your
plot.
Plot Maintenance
Fertilizer: Fertilizer should be applied each year in spring or fall. See the Plot Preparation section for more fertilizer tips.
Weed Control: Non Round Up Ready...
Mowing: Alfalfa is more attractive to deer when
less than 10 inches tall. If the plot gets taller, mow it to 4-6 inches.
It is
not recommended let your alfalfa get several feet tall and then mow it
short. The cuttings can pile up, resulting in dead or diseased plants
under the
clippings. If you have large plots that get very tall, it is suggested
to have the plot mowed and baled (local farmers may be eager to harvest
your
plots, and interested farmers are likely to harvest the plot and still
pay you a price per bale – check your local alfalfa hay prices). It is
best to
mow plots before a majority of plants produce flowers.
How Long Will the Plot Last?
If well maintained, alfalfa plots can easily last for five years or
longer. Production for three to five years can be expected. Poor quality
varieties
may not last as long, but improved varieties, such as Alfa-Graze, can
thrive for many years.
Replanting Plots
Alfalfa produces a chemical that is toxic to its own seedlings (a
mystery of nature). The toxin does not kill alfalfa seedlings, but it
significantly
hinders growth. So after a plot is no longer productive, plant an
alfalfa plot in another location. The old site can be left fallow or
replanted with
a non-legume food plot forage to take advantage of nitrogen produced by
the alfalfa (cereal grains, corn, brassicas, chicory). The site needs to
sit
for at least two winters before being replanted with alfalfa.