Planting techniques of alfalfa

Alfalfa grass is an annual or perennial herb of the genus Medicago, which is an important forage plant and can also be eaten as vegetables. It is widely introduced and cultivated all over the world. Its hay yield ranks first among many leguminous grasses and its nutrients are complete. It is rich in protein, trace elements and more than ten vitamins. Let's take a look at alfalfa planting technology together.

growth environment

Clover prefers warm and humid climates, where it is not too hot in summer and not too cold in winter. The optimum temperature is 15~25℃. Alfalfa will die if it exceeds 35℃ or below-15℃. It can overwinter at-8℃ in winter, but it is difficult to oversummer if it exceeds 35℃. Rainfall is required to be between 1000 and 2000 ml. It is not resistant to drought and has strict requirements for soil. When pH is 6~7, it is most suitable for growth. If pH is lower than 6, lime should be applied to regulate the acidity of the soil. It is not resistant to waterlogging. It should be planted in a plot with good drainage.

culture season

Alfalfa is mainly divided into spring cultivation and autumn cultivation, with autumn cultivation as more. Autumn cultivation from late July to late September sowing in batches, mid-August to late March of the following year six harvest market. Spring cultivation from late February to early June sowing, early April to late July harvest.

seed selection and germination

To avoid irregular emergence of alfalfa, seed selection should be carried out before sowing to reduce shriveled seeds and bad seeds in pods. Soak seeds in warm water at 55~60℃ for 5 minutes to eliminate floating seeds on water. In order to overcome the difficulties of late emergence and low emergence rate in early autumn and late spring, germination treatment is usually carried out before sowing. Put the selected seeds in sacks, soak them in well water or river water for 10 hours at night, then take them out and put them in shade for 2~3 days, pour cold water with a watering can every 3~4 hours, and then sow them.

soil preparation and sowing

Alfalfa grass is a shallow root crop, usually plowed about 15 cm deep, combined with ploughing into 1000 kg of human and animal manure per mu as base fertilizer, and made into a 20 cm high ridge, ridge width of 1.5 meters, in order to facilitate drainage, and then leveling the ridge surface, can be sown. Alfalfa multi-row sowing. The sowing amount per mu should be determined according to 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 should be more, with 40~50 kg per mu. Sowing in late autumn and early spring, 15 kg per mu.