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Seeding-Year Harvest Management In Alfalfa

May 26, 2016

Karla Hernandez

SDSU Extension Forages Field Specialist



Harvest Schedule Considerations

For production, consider forage quality when selecting a harvest schedule. Most harvest schedule decisions include date of cut, stage of maturity, interval between cuts, and cutting height. The interval between the stage of maturity, yield, forage quality, and persistence is frequently used to decide when to harvest alfalfa. For spring seedings without a companion crop two harvests can generally be made the first year. This depends on adequate rainfall patterns and optimum levels of soil nutrients (Figure 1).

First Harvest Seeding Year

The first harvest seeding year is when alfalfa is seeded in the spring and one to two cuttings are planned in the same year. This should be done after flowers begin to appear, allowing greater energy reserves in the roots. Generally, alfalfa will reach this stage of development between 60 and 70 days after emergence. Harvesting delays during this stage will cause large reductions in quality and decline in total yield over the season, because fewer harvests are possible.
Second Harvest Seeding Year

The second harvest should be before the first of September to ensure an adequate storage of energy reserves for winter, or it could possibly be delayed until after the first killing frost in the fall. Some key aspects to harvest alfalfa include good root development and plant vigor. If alfalfa stands look vigorous and the roots are well developed, spring cutting can be made at bud early bloom. However, if plants are relatively small and poorly developed, it might be better to wait until mid-bloom stage before harvesting (Figure 2).


 

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