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Alfalfa - Getting 10 Ton YieldsMarch 2011

Craig SaxeJuneau County UW-Extension

Special Thanks to:

Dr. Dan UndersanderUniversity of WisconsinUniversity of Wisconsin

For providing many of these slides

Alfalfa - Getting 10 Ton Yields

“The good is the enemy of the best”

“Attention to detail makes the difference”

2009-2010 Experimental Variety Trial Results(Sown April 2008)

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10

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2

4

6

Arlington Marshfield Malone Spooner

AveTop Variety

Yield difference between top and bottom entries of WI Alfalfa Variety Trials, 1985 to 2010

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5

6

7

cre

Average 2.26t/a DM

Minimum 0.34t/a DM

Maximum 6.18t/a DM

Number trials 279

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1

2

3

4

1985

1987

1988

1989

1989

1990

1991

1991

1992

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1995

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1997

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1998

1999

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

Tons/a

Harvest Year

Additional yield of top alfalfa varieties

4.0

5.0

6.0

7.0

, t/

a

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

1 2 3 4

Yie

ld

Cutting

High yielding

Low yielding

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Wisconsin Alfalfa Yield and Persistence Project

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2007 2007 -- 2010 2010 SummarySummary

1. Maintain Proper Soil pH and Fertility

Proper fertilization:

Allows for good stand establishment

Promotes growth

Increases yield and quality

Improves winter hardiness and stand persistence

Improves alfalfa’s ability to compete with weeds

Strengthens disease and insect resistance

Soil pH and Fertility

Have soils tested

Lime fields to at least pH 6.7-6.9

Apply lime at least 12 months before seeding

Best timing is as field is coming out of alfalfa

First-cutting alfalfa yield relative to soil pH

3

Pounds of nutrients removed per ton of alfalfa produced

Nutrient Dry Matter Removed (lbs/ton)Phosphate (P205) 14Potash (K2O) 58Potash (K2O) 58Calcium (Ca) 30Magnesium (Mg) 6Sulfur (S) 6Boron (B) 0.08

2. Select the Best Alfalfa Varieties

Cheap seed will not pay off in the long run

Look over University Trials

Compare new varieties with ones you’veCompare new varieties with ones you ve grown

Select high-yielding varieties with adequate winter survival and disease resistance.

Select Varieties with Increased Winterhardiness

Less winterkillLess winter injury – more yield

Winter Injury – uneven growth

Winterhardiness Test of Alfalfa

ProcedureSpace plant alfalfa (1 ft apart) in rows 1 ft apart

Clip frequently during seeding year

Cut on Sept 20 in seeding yearCut on Sept 20 in seeding year

Rate individual plants in spring for injury and kill

Report results relative to check varieties

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RecommendationsVery Winterhardy, Winterhardy, Moderately Winterhardy alfalfa varieties recommended for WisconsinPlant more winterhardy type if:

Uneven greenup in spring frequently occursCutting schedule always less than 35 daysHarvest late fall cutting

Effect of Verticillium Resistance on Alfalfa Persistence

60

80

100

stan

d

0

20

40

Fall/1

Fall/2

Spring

/3Fall

/3

Spring

/4Fall

/4

Time after seeding

% s

RMRLRS

Selecting Grass varieties -Yield difference among varieties in UW Trials

4

6

s/acr

e

Annual difference between top and bottom variety

0

2To

n

Selecting Grasses

Orchardgrass and tall fescueWant winterhardy types

Select Grass Varieties for

YieldWinterhardinessLate maturing varietiesConsistent yield throughout season (β)Consistent yield throughout season (β)Rust resistance (orchardgrass, tall fescue, ryegrass, festolium)

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3. Proper Seed Bed Preparation and Planting

Causes of Seeding Failure: Low Soil pH

First-cutting alfalfa yield relative to soil pH

Causes of Seeding Failure: Loose Soil

Effect of Seeding Depth on Alfalfa Emergence

5060

70

80

nce

(%)

Causes of Seeding Failure: Seeding Depth

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30

40

50

0.25 0.5 0.75 1 1.25 1.5 1.75 2

Seeding Depth (inches)

Pla

nt E

mer

gen

clayloamsand

Choose Best Establishment Method

• Direct Seeding

• Oats with Poast Plus or Roundup• Oats with Poast Plus or Roundup

• With Companion crop•Oats•Ryegrass

4. Scout Fields and Spray as Needed

Two Major Pests

1. Potato Leafhopper

2. Alfalfa Weevil

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Adults- 1/8 inch long- wedge shape

fl

Potato Leafhoppers

- florescent green• Nymphs

- much smaller- yellowish green to florescent green- no wings

Symptoms- Hopper burn- Distinct V-shape discoloration

Damage

p• Caused by

- Sucking plant sap and injecting toxinwhich inhibits water and nutrient transport

Alfalfa Weevil

LarvaSlate-colored when smallBright green when full grown (3/8”)White stripe down the back, black head

AdultDark gray to brown snout beetle (3/16”)Distinct dark shield-like mark on the back

Damage

Larva chew and skeletonize leavesSevere damage gives the field a grayish castMost damage occurs on spring growthFeeding can continue on second crop new growthSome fields may not green up

5. Harvest Management

Forage Yield Relative to Quality

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Cutting Schedules for Different Management Goals

Risk of alfalfa harvest at Marshfield, 1970-2000

405060708090

100

babi

lity

greater than 500 GDDless than 200 GDD

010203040

Sept.01 Sept.08 Sept.15 Sept.21

Date of Last Cutting

Prob

Effect of late fall cutting on next year’s yield (data from 2006)

56789

cut 4cut 3

012345

Arl-fall cut Arl - no fallcut

Mar - fallcut

Mar - nofall cut

Spo -fallcut

Spo - nofall cut

cut 3cut 2cut 1

1. What is your stand age?> 3 years 42 to 3 years 2< 1 year 1 0

2. Describe your alfalfa variety:A. What is the winterhardiness?

Moderately winterhardy (ws score 4) 3Winterhardy (ws score 3) 2Very Winterhardy (ws score 2) 1 0

B. What is the disease resistance?Moderate resistance to only bacterial wilt 4Moderate resistance to Bacterial wilt plus either Anthracnose, Fusarium wilt, phytophthora root rot, or Verticillium wilt 3Moderate resistance to all above mentioned diseases 1 0

Alfalfa variety total score (multiply two) 0

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3. What is your soil pH?< 6.0 46.1 TO 6.5 2> 6.6 0 0

4. What is your soil exchangeable K Level?Low (< 80 ppm) 4Medium (80 to 120 ppm) 3Optimum (120 to 160 ppm) 1High (> 161 ppm) 0 0

5. What is your soil drainage?Poor (somewhat poorly drained) 3Medium (well to moderately drained) 2Excellent (sandy soils) 1 0Excellent (sandy soils) 1 0

6. What is you soil moisture during fall/winter?Wet 5Medium to dry 0 0

7. Describe your harvest frequency:Cut interval Last Harvest< 30 days Sept. 1 to Oct. 15 5

After Oct. 15 4Before Sept 1 3 Before Sept. 1 3

30 to 35 days Sept. 1 to Oct. 15 4 After Oct. 15 2 Before Sept. 1 0

> 30 days Sept. 1 to Oct. 15 2 After Oct. 15 0 Before Sept. 1 0 0

8. For a mid to late October cut, do you leave more than 6 inches of stubble?

Yes 1No 0 0No 0 0

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6. Maintain Short Rotations

Yield is the most important component of profitability

Fixed costs same regardless of yielde.g. taxes, land costs, machinery depreciation

Production costs similarHarvesting costs similarHarvesting costs similar

Slightly higher for extra fuel and labor to harvest higher yield and haul to barn

Alfalfa Yield and Dollar Return from Wisconsin Green-Gold Program

$600

$800

$1,000

per

acre

Profitability increases with yield because fixed inputs remain constant and variable inputs increase

l li htl i ld

$0

$200

$400

$600

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Yield (t/a)

Dol

lar

Ret

urn only slightly as yield

increases.

Yield of alfalfa as Stand Ages (% of 2nd year)

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120

2nd

Yea

r)

4th year11% decline 5th year

27% decline

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1(seedyr)

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Age of Stand (Years)

Yiel

d (%

of 2

Benefits of Shorter Rotations:

Increased alfalfa yield from younger stands

Less weed problems in younger stands

I d il i ld f ll i lf lfIncreased corn silage yield following alfalfa

10 to 15% higher corn yields following alfalfa

More legume credits

Less rootworm insecticide needed following alfalfa

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Alfalfa Legume Credits

Med, Fine Soils Sandy Soils-----Regrowth after last cutting------

>8 inches <8 inches >8 inches <8 inches

St d D it lb it /Stand Density -------lb nitrogen/acre------

Good, > 4 plt/ft2 190 150 140 100

Fair, 1.5 to 4 plt/ft2 160 120 110 70

Poor, < 1.5 plt/ft2 130 90 80 40

7. Minimize Wheel Traffic Damage

No traffic

Traffic

Minimize Wheel Traffic Damage

Effect of Wheel Traffic

Soil compaction

Surface: related to contact weight

S b il l t d t l i htSubsoil: related to axel weight

Physical damage to plant

Crown Damage

Broken Stems

Reducing Wheel Traffic Damage

Minimize driving on fieldUse smallest tractor when possibleMerge windrows where possibleGo to larger equipmentGo o a ge equ p eTake most direct route to edge of fieldMake road to drive on

Reducing Wheel Traffic Damage

Do driving on field soon after harvest Manage to dry forage quicklyHarvest for haylage or baleageUse preservative and harvest wet hayUse p ese a e a d a es e ay

Use of duals not recommendedApply manure quickly after cutting

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8. Avoid Autotoxicity

Alfalfa plants produce toxins that can reduce germination and growth of new alfalfa seedings

Toxins influence increases with age and density of stand

Water soluble compounds impair seedling tap root development by causing root tips to swell and reduce root hair numbers

Autotoxicity reduces future yield

Smaller plants, misshapen roots20 to 30% reduced yield in production years

Autotoxicity

Reduces germination if severe

Reduces yield for life of stand

Effect most severe on light soilsEffect most severe on light soils

Effect most prolonged on heavy soils

Area of influence around living plant is 16” radius

Irrigation/rains can wash autotoxic factor from soil

Alfalfa Zone of Influence -distance from old plant

Low survival

8”

16”

24”

Survival but low yield

No effect on yield

Source: John Jenkins, U of MO

Alfalfa autotoxicity –conventional vs notill seeding

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eck)

Seeding year yield response to alfalfa seeded at various times after alfalfa stand kill

Conventional Notill

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Yiel

d (%

of c

he

Oweeks

2 weeks 4 weeks fallkilled

after 1yr corn

Time after old stand killed

Notill

Cosgrove et al., 1996

Planted two weeks after plowdown Planted one year after plowdown

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Autotoxicity Recommendations

Wait at least one year before reseeding alfalfa if stand in for two or more years

Can reseed new seeding failures anytimeCan reseed new seeding failures anytime

Recommendations for Emergencies

Accept some yield loss

Remove topgrowth before plowing to reduce effect

Tillage can reduce effect

Irrigation/rains can wash toxic factor from soil

Select fields with lightest soils

9. Importance of Seeding Year

Too much competition to the young alfalfa seedlings can stunt their growth and or kill them.

Alfalfa stressed in the seeding year will never yield ll i f tas well in future years

Higher than necessary plant populations of the cover crop add to establishment cost without producing additional return.

Harvest First Cutting of New Seeding Early

Take first cutting at 60 days after plantingMore additional cuttings – higher tonnageLess weed problems

Effect of Cover Crop Competition on Alfalfa Yield

1.531.67

1.78

1.02 0.96

1.54

0.9

1.2

1.5

1.8

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0.3

0.6

Drilled

with

Pursuit

Drilled

with

Poast

Drilled

contro

l

Oats fo

r sila

ge

Oats fo

r grai

n

Oats w

ith Poa

st

Conventional oat nurse crop

Roundup oat takeout

Alfalfa yield in year following seeding with Italian ryegrass cover crop at different rates

Fig 4. Alfalfa yield in year following seeding Italian ryegrass cover crop at different rates

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0 lb/a

Italian Ryegrass seeding rate lb/a

High r egrass

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234

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Arlington Marshfield Spooner

Yie

ld (t

/a) 2 lb/a

4 lb/a8 lb/a16 lb/a

High ryegrass seeding rates reduce alfalfa stand and yield in future years

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Seeding year stress reduces yield of alfalfa in future years

AutotoxicityPotato Leaf hopperCover CropCover CropDrought?Other?

Seeding year stress reduces yield of alfalfa for all years of stand

ConsiderLow yielding stands because of seeding year stress will not recover

RecommendationDetermine if low production year yield is due to nutrient stress

If so, treatIf not, consider turning over stand

Alfalfa Seeding Trial - Forage Yields

Arlington, WI

Treatment 2003 2004 2005

(1) Alfalfa seeded direct 2.8 2.4 2.3( )

(2) Oats sprayed at 6 inches 3.0 2.3 1.7

(3) Alfalfa + Oat haylage 2.7 4.1 3.1

Oat 2.0 2.3 2.0

Alfalfa 0.7 1.8 1.1

http://fyi.uwex.edu/cwas/

Forage Web Page

http://www.uwex.edu/ces/crops/teamforage/index.html

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