Lifecycle of Alfalfa Crop

In a few words, alfalfa can be sown during autumn or spring. Suppose we sow the seeds during the spring of year 1. If all things go right, about 60-65 days later, we can normally harvest our first cut. 35-45 days later, we can harvest the second cut, and generally every 35-45 days we can harvest alfalfa cuts up until late fall (the end of October – November) of year 1. At this point, the plant will prepare itself for the winter. It normally shrinks and stops developing until the next spring (year 2). If we take care of the plants, during the period spring-late fall of year 2 we can also harvest alfalfa cuts every 35-45 days. The same applies to years 3 and 4. Most farmers stop cultivating alfalfa after the 4th year, because the yield has decreased significantly (it may drop 15% every year). However, there are reported cases in which alfalfa plants continue to give remarkable production yields after 6-7 years or even more. Most farmers plow and destroy the crop at the end of the fourth year, and they rotate to a cereal.

1.) Alfalfa Uses & General Info

2.) Alfalfa Plant Information

3.) How to grow Alfalfa

4.) Alfalfa Soil Requirements – Variety Selection – Weed Management

5.) Sowing and Seeding Rate of Alfalfa

6.) Alfalfa Fertilizer Requirements

7.) Alfalfa Water Requirements

8.) Alfalfa Harvest & Yield per Acre

9.) Alfalfa Crop Rotation

10.) Q&As Alfalfa

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