Cultivation

Alfalfa irrigation

Medicago sativa L.

Alfalfa has a high transpiration coefficient and requires soil moisture to be maintained at 75–80% of field capacity (FC) in the one-meter layer. The irrigation regime directly depends on cutting cycles and the intended use of the produce — green mass or seeds.

In the reference 35 varieties crop Alfalfa, where this is mentioned in the description.

Alfalfa is extremely sensitive to waterlogging and stagnant water, which triggers the development of root rots; the optimal groundwater level for this crop does not exceed 1.5–2 meters. When grown for green mass, moisture in the 1–1.2 m layer is maintained at 75–80% FC. For seed crops, water supply is reduced to 60–65% FC after flowering to prevent excessive vegetative growth and lodging, which impair hay quality and slow down drying.

Irrigation technology is closely linked to cuttings: primary irrigation is carried out after mowing, followed by a series of inter-cutting irrigations of 20–25 mm. During the budding stage, irrigation is ceased to improve forage quality. The deep taproot system of alfalfa allows it to utilize moisture from lower horizons, although 75–90% of the water the plant consumes comes from the one-meter layer. Intensive use of machinery for harvesting increases the risk of soil compaction, which requires monitoring of the moisture infiltration rate.

General information about the subject — on the page Irrigation.

Sources8

Varieties of Alfalfa mentioned in the description

Selection based on the description text, not on official evaluation: these data are absent from registers. For specific variety details, please refer to its profile.