By Katja Koehler-Cole and Léa Vereecke et.al
Key Takeaways
Limited research calls for caution: Research data is lacking, so proceed with caution.
Confirm organic certification requirements:Verify with your organic certifier to make sure the practice is allowed.
Irrigation is essential for success: Irrigation is a must-have in most years and most areas of Nebraska.
Stand quality is critical for weed suppression: Start with a weed-free, uniform alfalfa stand.
Successful planting requires specialized equipment: A row stalker is essential equipment to remove alfalfa from the rows where corn will be planted.
Yield trade-offs are likely: Expect some yield reduction in corn.
An innovative management practice has generated considerable interest among organic and regenerative farmers in Nebraska: growing corn in living alfalfa. Clear Frontier Agronomist Ben Miller has experimented with this system for over 10 years, gathering valuable information with different equipment, weather conditions and rotational sequences, and has helped other growers implement the practice on several thousand acres of mostly certified organic and irrigated land.
Producers have many questions about competition between corn and alfalfa, yields and the best management practices; however, there is no current replicated, peer-reviewed research into this system. Here, we compiled field observations to provide an overview of the practice.
Given the lack of formal data, we advise those who are interested in this practice to start small and consider participating in on-farm trials with Nebraska Extension to gain experience and obtain farm-specific data.
Potential Benefits of Growing Corn in Living Alfalfa
Organic corn growers’ biggest challenges are usually weeds. Organic farmers rely heavily on tillage to control weeds, often making two to three tillage passes over their fields before they plant corn, followed by two to three more passes with a cultivator or rotary hoe to kill weeds during corn’s early growth stages. Tillage is labor and fuel-intensive, and depending on how deep and frequently it is done, can also lead to soil erosion, compaction and reduced soil health. For these reasons, many organic farmers and researchers are looking for ways to reduce tillage and find other methods to suppress weeds.
Source : unl.edu