Desired alfalfa/grass mixes can be maintained by picking appropriate grass species and varieties. Timothy and smooth bromegrass tend to produce too much forage in the spring but little the rest of the year so we recommend mixing either orchardgrass, tall fescue, or mea- dow fescue with alfalfa.
Can you mix alfalfa and grass?
If the alfalfa struggles, you may decide to manage the mixture for the grass by applying nitrogen, which will further nudge the advantage to the grasses over the alfalfa. Alfalfa and grass don’t have to be grown in mixes. You could seed pure stands of grass and alfalfa, then mix the two forages in a total mixed ration (TMR).
What is a good companion crop for alfalfa?
A small grain or Italian/annual ryegrass companion crop with a spring seeding provides greater seeding-year yield than alfalfa seeded directly. Sod-forming grasses like reed canarygrass or smooth bromegrass allow traffic when fields are wetter.
How do I Choose an alfalfa plant?
The easy part is the alfalfa variety, which you can select based on proven University yields over locations and years. Target and evaluate significant genetic traits such as tonnage, quality, winter hardiness, fall dormancy and pest resistances (insects and diseases). University of Minnesota alfalfa field crop variety trials.
Can you mix alfalfa and rye forage?
You could seed pure stands of grass and alfalfa, then mix the two forages in a total mixed ration (TMR). Rye and triticale have become more popular in recent years; these are added to the ration as pure grass. Perennial grasses can be managed this way to avoid the problem of feed variability.
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What is best to mix alfalfa with?
Desired alfalfa/grass mixes can be maintained by picking appropriate grass species and varieties. Timothy and smooth bromegrass tend to produce too much forage in the spring but little the rest of the year so we recommend mixing either orchardgrass, tall fescue, or mea- dow fescue with alfalfa.
What do you mix alfalfa seeds with?
Nurse Crops: Spring seeded alfalfa/grass mixtures can be planted with a small grain nurse crop such as oats, barley, or spring triticale. Use 1/3 – ½ seeding rates of the nurse crop to avoid over competing with new seedlings.
Will alfalfa take over grass?
Cut for the grass Dry conditions will tend to favor the alfalfa, while wetter years will allow the grass to dominate. You never know for sure what you will get until it comes up, and even then it's best to wait until it goes through a winter.
What grass grows best with alfalfa?
Tall fescue, meadow fescue, meadow brome, orchardgrass, and festulolium give a more uniform balance through the growing season. Variety selection also is important, especially if hay harvests are planned. Late maturing grass varieties usually match up best with alfalfa.
Can you mix clover and alfalfa?
ADDED NUTRITION: Overseeding an alfalfa field with frosty berseem clover can increase the nutritional value and yield of hay. Frosty berseem clover mixed with alfalfa can boost yields of hay by almost 30%.
How do you add pasture to alfalfa?
managing grazing to favor the legume. Rotational graz- ing favors alfalfa growth and should begin at or just prior to the bud stage. Pastures should be grazed “quickly” to 3 to 4 inches in three to four days, then the pasture should be rested for 20 to 30 days before re- peating the cycle.
Can you mix red clover and alfalfa?
Premium red clover added to alfalfa will improve the fermentation of the haylage, thereby allowing you to extract more nutrients from the alfalfa.
Can you plant alfalfa without tilling?
If you can do it, no-till alfalfa is worth trying. It works really well in bean stubble and almost as well in small grain stubble. It can be a bit more difficult in corn and milo stubble, especially if there is much row ridging. Be sure to kill any early weeds with Roundup or Gramoxone before planting.
How often do you have to reseed alfalfa?
Recommended intervals of six or twelve months were most frequently reported, but the range was two weeks to 24 months. Many respondents commented that their most common recommendation was to reseed alfalfa after rotation with a non-legume crop grown for one or more seasons.
Can you plant timothy and alfalfa together?
Timothy has been used for many decades in combination with alfalfa for hay production. It is not generally productive in mid-summer, lacks grazing tolerance, and is suffers from heat and drought stress.
How many pounds per acre do you plant alfalfa?
Seeding rates should be between 12 and 15 pounds per acre. Prescribed seeding rates are designed to provide several times the seed needed to achieve optimal yield under ideal growing conditions. Seeding rates above 15 pounds per acre have no positive impact on yield (Table 3).
When should you plant alfalfa?
If you have land available for alfalfa in late summer, optimal seeding dates are July 15 through August in the Upper Midwest and closer to July 15 for northernmost regions. For growers in warmer climates, seeding into early September is acceptable.
How much grass is in an alfalfa forage?
The key to managing alfalfa-grass mixtures for high quality dairy forage is to maintain forage stands that contain about 30 to 40% grass. When the composition of the stand is in this range, nitrogen fixation from legumes can meet the needs of the grass species, and fiber content of the mixture is still acceptable.
How many seeds per m2 of alfalfa?
Alfalfa was seeded at the rate of 645 seeds/m 2 with varying grass seeding rates of 15 to 75%. All seed lots had over 90% germination. Seedling emergence was based on plant counts taken 30 to 40 days after seeding As the graph at right the mean grass emergence varied greatly among sites and years.
Which has more fiber, grass or alfalfa?
Grass/alfalfa mixtures have higher total fiber than alfalfa alone which may be needed in some high corn silage rations.
Is alfalfa grass faster than alfalfa?
Faster drying – 30 to 40% grass with alfalfa dries faster than either pure alfalfa or pure grass. Some less winter kill or injury to the alfalfa stand, losses from flooding – some grasses will survive standing water and/or ice in low spots of field better than alfalfa.
Does grass seeding affect alfalfa?
Emergence of alfalfa was not affected by the grass seeding rate except at the very highest levels of grass seed. Therefore higher grass seeding rates resulted in higher grass percentages in the final mixtures. In general, as grass seeding rate increased, the alfalfa declined as a percent of the total stand.
Can you replace corn silage with grass silage?
Initial feeding trials we have run have indicated that that we could maintain high levels of milk production when replacing a portion of the corn silage and alfalfa with grass silage, even though dietary NDF increased slightly.
Does orchardgrass affect alfalfa?
It is also apparent that orchardgrass had less effect on alfalfa stand reduction than the other two species. It is important to recognize that more plants emerge than contribute to the final stand.
What is the best way to seed alfalfa grass?
Broadcast seeding is likely the best method for seeding alfalfa-grass mixes. This is especially true when using bunch grasses to provide more even cover. Broadcast perennial forages.
What are the benefits of seeding grass with alfalfa?
Benefits of seeding grass with alfalfa. Higher yields with faster drying times. More persistent crop through the winter. Weed and erosion control. Grasses have more digestible fiber than alfalfa. Seeding grass with alfalfa can boost yield and drying rate while keeping animals healthy.
Which is better, grass or alfalfa?
Grasses catch snow and insulate better than alfalfa alone.
When is the best time to plant alfalfa?
Since alfalfa-grass mixtures have few herbicide options, August may be the best time to seed if soil moisture is ideal. There’s less weed competition during late summer than spring. Plus sign (+) if content is closed, 'X' if content is open. Swath width.
Does grass alfalfa cause bloat?
Grass-alfalfa mixes are less likely to cause bloat than pure alfalfa when grazed.
Nutritious herb may help prevent or treat certain illnesses
Barbie Cervoni MS, RD, CDCES, CDN, is a registered dietitian and certified diabetes care and education specialist.
What Is Alfalfa Used For?
Alfalfa is a low-calorie, nutrient-dense food. According to the USDA Nutrient Database, one cup of alfalfa sprouts has only 8 calories but delivers 0.2 grams fat, 0.7 grams carbohydrate, 0.6 grams fiber, and 1.3 grams protein.
Possible Side Effects
Alfalfa sprouts are considered safe and nutritious but may cause side effects in some people. Due to its high fiber content, consuming raw alfalfa can cause gas, abdominal discomfort, and diarrhea.
Dosage and Preparation
Alfalfa supplements are widely available in vitamin shops as well as many health food stores. It is also sold as an herbal tea, tincture, tablet, powder, and dried herb. Fresh alfalfa sprouts can be purchased in many grocery stores.
What to Look For
There are a number of things to consider when eating fresh alfalfa or taking alfalfa in supplement form.
A Word From Verywell
Alfalfa sprouts may be tasty and healthy, but there is no evidence they can treat or prevent any diseases or health conditions. Moreover, fresh alfalfa sprouts pose a potential risk to young children, older adults, pregnant women, and anyone with a compromised immune system.
What is the best way to control weeds in alfalfa?
Alfalfa often may be seeded with a companion crop like oats to control weeds and erosion and provide a crop of grain or hay. Clear seeding alfalfa alone, without a companion crop, also works well. A preplant herbicide like trifluralin, Balan or Eptam often is sprayed and incorporated first to control weeds in a clear seeding, ...
Does companion crop help alfalfa?
Companion crops reduce alfalfa yield the first year and often they cause thinner stands. Also, yields and stands in following years almost always are better with a successful clear seeding than when using a companion crop.
When to cut alfalfa?
To optimize yield and still have dairy quality, you need to cut when the alfalfa is less mature than you would when just managing alfalfa alone. The saying “When you see the head, the quality is dead” is very true.
Can you grow alfalfa in dry conditions?
Dry conditions will tend to favor the alfalfa, while wetter years will allow the grass to dominate. You never know for sure what you will get until it comes up, and even then it’s best to wait until it goes through a winter. If you like predictable results, pure stands may be the choice for you.
Does grass have more fiber digestibility than alfalfa?
Especially on fields that are variable, yields can be higher and more consistent with grass. Grass, if harvested at the right stage, will have higher fiber digestibility than alfalfa. Typically, it will dry down faster for haylage or hay. Since there has been more interest, my family’s dairy has dipped its toe into the grass-growing pool, ...
Does alfalfa grass have crown roots?
Finally, you need to cut grass higher; it doesn’t have crown root reserves and needs adequate leaf area to recover in the field. Options exist. Soil fertility is more complicated with an alfalfa-grass mixture; this is especially true for potassium. Alfalfa has a deep taproot, which offers drought tolerance.
Can alfalfa be grown with grass?
Throughout the United States, a lot of alfalfa is grown with grass. This is sometimes done by design, but other times it occurs unintentionally. In some areas, grass is very well adapted. It is less prone to winter damage, although this past winter we found that grass, too, can die over winter. There has been expanding interest in growing grass in ...
Is grass better than alfalfa?
There are many potential advantage s of adding grass to the ration over alfalfa alone. There is a possible yield advantage and better resiliency against adverse conditions. Fiber digestibility may be improved, but total fiber may go up.
What is the best herbicide to use for alfalfa seed?
For conventional planting, pre-emergence herbicide, such as Eptam or Chateau, can be incorporated into the soil before planting alfalfa. On no-till planting, only post-emergence herbicides, such as Raptor, Pursuit, or Select can be used.
How to plant alfalfa in grass sod?
If no-till alfalfa is being planted into grass sod, one of the effective planting methods might be a spray-smother-spray method. First, spray the growing grass sod with a non-selective herbicide. Second, no-till plant an annual forage crop, such as winter wheat or rye, to smother regrowth of any grass sod or break-hard sod.
How to establish good stands of alfalfa?
Establishing good stands of alfalfa can be done by proper site selection, seeding rate, weed control and planting method.
What herbicides are used for no till planting?
On no-till planting, only post-emergence herbicides, such as Raptor, Pursuit, or Select can be used. Conventional planting. Conventional tillage is a more desirable planting method for flat and uniform fields than no-till planting, which is for rocky or steep slopes.
Does alfalfa need liming?
Alfalfa does well on well-drained soil rather than wet, heavy clay soils and requires good soil pH ranging from 6.5 to 7.0. If your soil pH is lower than 6.5, symbiotic nitrogen fixation may not function properly. Thus, liming will be required to raise low soil pH to its optimum level and make better nutrient uptake.
Can you use a grain drill for alfalfa?
Either cultipacker type seeder or a grain drill can be used for a conventional tillage for planting alfalfa. No-till planting. In general, no-till costs less than a conventional tillage in terms of time, fuel and power requirements.
