The latest course of alfalfa planting techniques and methods

Alfalfa is an annual or perennial herb of the genus Alfalfa, which is an important forage plant and can also be used as a vegetable. It is widely introduced and cultivated all over the world. Its hay yield ranks first among many legumes and has complete nutrients. It is rich in protein, trace elements and more than ten kinds of vitamins. Let's take a look at alfalfa planting techniques.

Growing environment

Alfalfa prefers areas where the climate is warm and humid, not too hot in summer and not too cold in winter. The optimum temperature is 15: 25 ℃, more than 35 ℃ or less than-15 ℃ will kill alfalfa, winter-8 ℃ can survive the winter, but more than 35 ℃ is difficult to pass the summer. The rainfall is required to be 1000 to 2000 milliliters. It is not resistant to drought and has strict requirements on the soil. PH6~ 7 is the most suitable for growth. If the pH value is less than 6, lime should be used to regulate the acidity of the soil. It should be planted in the land with good drainage.

Cultivation season

Alfalfa is mainly divided into spring cultivation and autumn cultivation, and autumn cultivation is the most. Autumn cultivation was sown in batches from late July to late September and was harvested and listed one after another from mid-August to late March of the following year. Spring cultivation sowed from late February to early June and harvested from early April to late July.

Seed selection and budding

In order to avoid irregular emergence of alfalfa, seed selection should be carried out before sowing to reduce the shrunken seeds and bad seeds in pods. Soak the seeds in 55-60 ℃ warm water for 5 minutes to eliminate the floating seeds. In order to overcome the difficulties of late emergence and low emergence rate in early autumn and late spring, budding treatment was usually carried out before sowing. Put the selected seeds in a sack and immerse them in well water or river water for 10 hours at night, then take out the seeds, leave them in the shade for 2-3 days, sprinkle the seeds with cold water every 3-4 hours, and then sow the seeds.

Soil preparation and sowing

Alfalfa is a shallow root crop, usually about 15 cm deep, combined with ploughing and ploughing, 1000 kg of human and animal manure per mu is applied as base fertilizer, and it is made into a 20cm high border with a width of 1.5m to facilitate drainage, and then level the border surface before sowing. Alfalfa is sown in many rows. The sowing amount per mu should be determined with the season. Generally, when sowing in early autumn and late spring, the temperature is higher, the soil is dry, the emergence rate is low, and the sowing amount per mu is more, 40-50 kg per mu. Sow seeds in late autumn and early spring with 15 kg per mu.