How to grow alfalfa

Alfalfa is called cauliflower, and at the same time, some people call it four-leaf clover. The history of alfalfa cultivation can be traced back to the Western Han Dynasty. It can be said that it has a long history, and its use value is relatively high. It can be used as a vegetable on the table for human beings. It can also be used as a forage grass for livestock, but it can also be used as medicine, but now many people do not know much about alfalfa, and it is not only about how to grow alfalfa. So what we are going to learn today is how to grow alfalfa. Let's take a look.

1. Variety selection

Alfalfa has been planted for a long time, there are many varieties, and whether the selection of alfalfa varieties is correct or not is the most basic condition for successful alfalfa planting. At present, the most promising alfalfa is alfalfa. Secondly, Baoding alfalfa, big-leaf alfalfa and foreign nouye alfalfa are better alfalfa varieties, we can choose the most suitable varieties according to the specific conditions of the planting area.

2. Land selection and preparation

The best way to plant alfalfa is sand or loam which is close to water source, loose soil, moderate pH or slightly alkaline soil, and other land except clay can also be planted, but the yield and quality of alfalfa are relatively different. In the process of soil preparation, we should thoroughly remove the weeds in the field, always ploughing deeply, then fine and level the soil, and finally sprinkle enough organic fertilizer or farm manure as base fertilizer to wait for sowing.

3. Sowing seeds at the right time

Before sowing, we need to treat the seeds. First of all, we need to screen out high-quality seeds with full grains, healthy and pest-free, and good color, and then treat the seeds with a special treatment formula. In this way, the resistance of the seeds can be stronger and the germination rate can be improved. According to the climate gap in different regions of our country, alfalfa is usually planted in spring and autumn, that is, March and April every year and August and September every year, the specific time depends on the specific situation. There are three methods of sowing, on-demand, strip sowing, and sowing, but most of them use strip sowing, which is convenient for later field management. The seeds will be sown according to a distance of 30 cm per row, and then cover the seeds with soil.

4. Field management

There is a lot of work in the field management. first of all, we need to check the seedlings in the field, replenish the seedlings in a relatively rare place, and then water and fertilize the seedlings. Alfalfa needs sufficient water for its growth, but at the same time, there can be no stagnant water in the field, and the stagnant water should be discharged in time. As for fertilizing alfalfa, it has special bacterial fertilizer, at the same time, we can also apply appropriate amount of phosphate fertilizer and organic rot fertilizer. Weeding is required at least three times a year, usually at the seedling stage and after each harvest, which promotes the growth of alfalfa.

5. Pest control

There are many diseases of alfalfa, the most common are rust, downy mildew, brown spot, powdery mildew and so on. We can use carbendazim, chlorothalonil or topurazine to control them. Alfalfa pests are mainly borers or some pests that mainly harm green leaves. We can use fenitrothion, dimethoate and other insecticides to control pests.

6. Rational harvesting

Alfalfa can be harvested at least three to four times a year, and it can also be produced for several years, so we have to harvest it at the right time, the first time is usually when the alfalfa blossoms a small number of flowers. Then it can be harvested every 35 to 45 days or so. Remember to weed and fertilize after each harvest, which can promote its branches and leaves to grow.