To establish dense, vigorous stands, alfalfa requires optimal physical and chemical soil conditions. Reclamation may take many years and can be expensive. Use the table below to compare alfalfa field requirements with the conditions of your prospective site. If there are specific site problems, you will need to determine if remediation is feasible.
| Alfalfa requirements | Site problem | Remedy | Comments |
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| Unrestricted rooting depth, at least 3 ft. |
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| Suitable soil type |
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Alfalfa grows successfully on a range of soil textures, but seems to do best in sandy loam to clay loam soils. | |
| Uniform soil texture through soil profile |
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| Level land for proper irrigation and water penetration |
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| Proper drainage |
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Poor drainage can lead to runoff and water quality problems. |
| Proper nutrient levels. P, K commonly deficient |
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| pH between 6.2 and 7.5 to favor N-fixing Rhizobium bacteria |
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| Proper salinity level: ECe <=2.0 mmhos /cm |
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Sites with excessive salts require major modifications that can be expensive. |
| Proper soil Na level |
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Sites with excessive Na require major modifications that can be expensive. |
preplanting techniques
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