xt7gb56d3n5n https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7gb56d3n5n/data/mets.xml   Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station. 1938 journals kaes_circulars_003_312 English Lexington : The Service, 1913-1958. Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station Circular (Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station) n. 312 text Circular (Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station) n. 312 1938 2014 true xt7gb56d3n5n section xt7gb56d3n5n I
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}°°'"““Q COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE
X1CllSl(>Il
so wm, Extenswn Division I
ml EM THOMAS P. COOPER, Dean and Director
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CIRCULAR NO. 312
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,0 GROWING ALFALFA IN KENTUCKY
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Y

 Circular N0. 312*
GROWING ALFALFA IN KENTUCKY ~
By E. N. FERGUS, RALPH KENNEY, and W. C. JOHNSTONEM
,·\lfall'a is undoubtedly the most dependable hay crop for Ken-
tucky. \\'ith proper care, it lasts for several years and produces
three to live crops annually; consequently at least one good crop is
almost certain, even in years of severe drouth or when rainy
weather makes curing difficult. Its dependability together with
its high acre yield, high nutritive value and outstanding palatability,
justify the growing of alfalfa on many farms in Kentucky. The
trop is not the easiest to grow of the meadow crops suited to Ken-
tucky, tho there are large sections of the State where it thrives almost
as well as any other hay crop. Perhaps it is best adapted to much ‘
of the outer Bluegrass region, especially of northern Kentucky, but _
it is well adapted to other areas and, with practicable soil treatment,
tau be grown satisfactorily on many farms of the State.
SOIL REQUIREMENTS
i\ well—drained, fertile, neutral or only very slightly acid soil is
necessary for satisfactory alfalfa production. Tho most of the soil.
of Kentucky lacks one or more of these qualities, a considerable
area is naturally suited for producing good yields of the crop. Much
hill land of northern Kentucky and some of the red, limestone soil
just outside the \\’estern Coal Field, are of that kind. Apparently
the former is suitable because of limestone fragments in the soil. and
the latter because of leachings from marl beds on hillsides above.
Most well-drained bottom land, also, produces good yields of
alfalfa without soil treatment. There are other areas on which
. the crop makes good growth without soil treatment. yet more prof-
itable yields are produced after the soil has been properly treated.
'l`he soil in the rest of the State must be properly treated before it
will produce good yields.
* To supersede N0. 70.
MH H» J€\\’€Lt, research entomologist of the Kentucky Experiment Stiltiml. collab- ,
filgilgigulll ltlw Dleparationlof the section on ipsects that attack ·?AlIii1lfL\.·L\lld   D.  
UH alfulfg Hgilgegzggllologist ni the Experiment Station, m the p1ept11.it1ou ol the setlwu [
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 ·l Km:/1u·/cy Exlwmmz Cirrulrrr N0. 312
Liming the soil is Lhe treauneni most generally needed lor
alfalfa pmduciion in Kentucky, and-much 0[ the land needs ni,
other. For instance, two tons ol limestone per acre on the Experi-
meni Siaiion l·1ll`lll ai Lexingum increased the average yield from
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The upper picture shows alfalfa on liined land in the Central Bluegrass Region of
Kentucky; the lower 0ne is of alfalfa on the same kind 0I land not limed.
685* pounds In the acre, per culling, Lo l775 pounds; {Our mm
increased it Lu 2,2250 ]><>unds, but six ions were no more elliertnw
lllllll lllc ~l tons. Liming usually is iieeessary, algo, in 4·<>1iilC<|l<**'
with l-Clllll/(fl` rreaunenis.

 _ (Irowing .4/faffu in Km:/uc/cy 5
ed for T Everything considered, 3 tons of limestone per acre appears to
eds no ` he the most satisfactory amount to apply for alfalfa production
Experi- generally in the State. It should be applied two months or more. .
Ll from if possible, prior to seeding. Soil that has recently been limed may
_ tequire no additional application. Liming materials such as marl
, and burned lime may be used instead of limestone, but the quantity
to be applied should be regulated according to the neutralizing
value. On the 2lVC1`2lg€ JA {01] of f1`€Sl1, l)ll1`Il€(l lime or   ton of
!·.» 1, ‘ water-slaked lime is approximately equal to I ton of limestone in
  umetrtitig soil acidity. The neutralizing value of marl should he
  itscertained by chemical analysis.
2:** at
  The hay removed each year from a good held of alfalfa contains
  as much phosphorus as 100 to 201) pounds of 20-percent sttper-
  phosphate. Much of the soil of the State contains an insufficient
`   amount of the element in available form to meet the needs of the »
  crop. Perhaps the only soil that is naturally rich enough in
  phosphorus to produce good yields over a period of years is in the l
  Bluegrass region, tho much river-bottom soil and some of the soil y
sttrrounding the \\’estern Coal Field contain sufficient for produc-
` ing good crops for a time. However, some soil even in the Blue-
Q, ,4 grass region does not contain enough for sustained good yields.
 -  lt is apparent that much of the soil of the State must be treated witli
  A phosphate for the satisfactory production of alfalfa. The amount
  needed varies with soil deficiency but liberal applications are advis-
  able because of the large amount removed by the crop. On the
  quite deficient soil, the application should be at least l(l() pounds
  of 2(l—percent superphosphate an acre, or its equivalent in other
  <`i!l`1`lCI`S. for each year the crop is to be on the land. lt should be
  |>111. ou at seeding time if possible, otherwise part should be applied
  then and the remainder broadcast later in early spring or after a
’fi*"*' hay crop has been removed.
MOH or 011 the whole, the soils of Kentucky are apparently tvcll enough
supplied with other nutrients to produce large yields of alfalfa. at
r tons least for the present, tho there is evidence that potassium is becom-
fettiyc ing somewhat deficient in soil that has produced large crop yields for
tettiott several years. Perhaps the need for that fertilizer is not sufhcient to
warrant the rectnnmendation that it be generally applied for alfalfa. I
  l

 *1
6 Kenluc/cy Extension Circa:/m` No. 312
but it is good practice to treat zi small aren to test its effect. ll`
it is beneficial, the whole Held may then be top-dressed. Applieznion
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A meadow mixturekcontaining alfalfa was sown on both the plots pictured above,
at Mayfield. The plot in the upper picture was treated with limestone, snperplwsph:iti·
and potash. Alfalfa is vcry proxninent in the vegetation. The plot in the lower pn--
ture was untreated. The vegetation is only weeds and some grass, but no alfalfa.

 5
(Trozuing A/fztlfa in Kzrntuc/cy 7
-`l· · ll ,,{‘ got) pounds of niuriate or sulfate of potash per acre usually is
“‘U"" sufficient for such a test. Despite the fact that the soil contains a
large amount of total potassium it need occasion no surprise if A
potash fertilizer increases yield. Three tons of alfalfa hay contain
about 80 pounds of potassium; consetpiently the amount of avail-
able potassium in the soil may well be insufhcient to meet the
considerable demand, especially after several crops of alfalfa have
_ been harvested.
V ,\ well-tlrained soil is essential for good alfalfa. Many partial
antl some complete failures of stands are caused by too much free
water in the upper two feet of soil. Care shottld be used, therefore,
to select level land that is rarely “wet" or hillsides without extensive
"seepy" areas.
VARIETIES
The varieties of alfalfa grown in the United States are of Iwo °
major groups»common and variegated. Perhaps common alfalfa
may be considered a variety with many strains known by state
names, such as Kansas Common, Idaho Common, some of which are .
certified by seed or crop improvement associations. '1`urkistan,
Hardistan and Kaw also apparently are co1nmon alfalfas. \'arie—
gated alfalfas of the United States inclttde Grimm. Cossack, Baltic,
Hardigan and Ladak varieties, and these, in turn. except Hardigan.
perhaps, consist of strains designated by state names, such as North
Dakota Grimm, Montana Cossack, etc.
The Hardigan variety was superior to all others in tests con-
ducted by the Kentucky Agrictilttiral Experiment Station. Varieties
from the southwestern part of the United States are least well
atlapted, tho seed from central and northern California has not
been tested here. Tttrkistan, Harclistan, Kaw, antl Ladak varieties
are not well adapted. Yields produced by other varieties differed
greatly but until more information is obtained regarding the
adaptability of certified strains, no definite recommendations rc-
garding them may be made. lt appears, however. that the varieties
best atlapted to Kentucky are from Canada and the region of the
lillitetl States north of the latitutlc- of the southern boundary of
Dggllliiii l{?lll$2lS. Not‘tlit*rn Olglalioma seetl seems to lic its well <l2l[>l(‘(ltll('·
[)l`()(ll1(`l1lg ()1`g2l1llSlll of alfalfa. Seedlings without root nodules 111:11
become yellow. weak, 2lll(l generally so unthrifty that they cannot
successfully compete witl1 weeds or resist diseases. The stands
rapidly tl1i11 out. lll()S()1I1C()f tl1e lflllllllllllg plants ntay in soniewat
become inoculated 2ll1(l survive. By that tin1e tl1e stand is so tl1i11
and weedy fllill it is 11ot worth leaving. Tliereforc. all seed shoultl
be inoculated unless tl1e field i11 which it is to be sown has reccntl}

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Spring-sown alfalfa in the Centra] Bluegrass Region of Kentucky. H
August seeding, if properly done, has the advantage of providing H
a uniform, weed—free seed bed, and apparently of being especially
favorable for inoculation. It has the disadvantage of leaving the
soil largely unprotected against erosion during the following win- li
ter—a serious objection on all but level land. As both August and li
spring seedings are sometimes attacked by diseases, there is little rl
choice between them as regards obtaining healthy young stands. al
Proper condition of the seed bed is very important. It should he yl
lirm, yet the surface should be in condition to provide a shallow ll
covering of the seed. These conditions are almost always provided Sl
in the specially prepared seed bed but they are too often lacking W
when seed is sown in a winter nurse crop. Seed sown on a well- if
honeycombed soil will be satisfactorily eovered, but there is danger ‘l
that the seedlings may be injured or killed by late freezes. See<><` y
tenor) ‘lll’|l€ll. especially il` weeds are smothering the crop. l`l0\\'C\'Cl`. ll1C R

 tl
I2 l{r·it/ttcky 1£.Yf('ll,S`f()}I Circttlrtr No. 312
time to clip will have to be decided with some regard to the natttre tl
ofthe weeds. If clipping kills them, that produces a sitttation qttite ct
different from one that follows clipping if the weeds recover iuare
vigorously and quickly than the alfalfa. For example, ragweed
belongs to the former type, and crabgrass usually to the lattet ,U
during midsummer. lf ragweeds are clipped after they are large ii
enough to smother alfalfa seriously, they usually will not make my
much recovery. (jrabgrass, on the other hand. if Clit during lull il
and early August of any but a dry season. recovers quickly atltl M
soon produces a heavier growth than it would have produced hatl ll
it not been cut. covering the new shoots of alfalfa. lf clipped alter M
it begins to mature, about .·\ugust 25, however, it makes relatirelt (1
little new growth, and the alfalfa shoots may have a chance to grtrit· In
thru. ln other words, in managing the alfalfa field during its first H
y year of seeding, decisions have to be iuade with regard to all fat·tt>rv PI
concerned. U
TIME TO CUT ALFALFA gl
(lutting alfalfa for hay tllllsl be timed with regard to two nttt- fl'
siderations: one is the desire for high-quality hay, the other is the *‘
need of the plant to build tip the food reserves in its root system ll
necessary for the production of the early growth of the following l’
crop. 'l`o make hay of the highest quality, the crop imtst be cut il
while all the leaves are green and the steius fine. These conditiotts ll
more or less disappear by the titne the plants have made their l"
largest deposits of food materials in the roots. Nevertheless. it is ll
possible to have high-quality hay and still allow the plants sufficiettt li'
time to store food in their roots. l·`orinerly it was the titlsltltll ltt ll
detertnine the cutting stage by the stage of blooming or the length ff
of the new shoots. Usually one or the other criterion is reliable fl
bttt too often neither is very positive, and confusion ntay follrtttl ff
lt now appears that the better practice is to cut by dates rathet ll
tltan by apparent stage of growth, making the first cutting ahtvttl ll
May 20 in sottthern Kentucky, and _]une I in northern lsenttttiky.
with subsequent cuttings at about six—week periods thereafter. The lit
last cutting shottld not be made later than about six weeks beftire tt
the normal titue of first killing frost, lt seems that alfalfa may he tlll i"
after it has been heavily frosted witliottt injury to the stand: in Iatt. tt

 (iirowing xl/fu/fu in [{('}IlIl(`/{y 13 i
nature the next )'C2ll`·S crop sometimes is ol better quality lollowing late lall
ll quite cutting.
jr mm-a CUTTING FOR HAY
*'§“’€€1‘~ pt-riotls ol most favorable weather, any method ol cttring must be a ·
coinpromise between those that would produce the hay ol` natural
green color on o11e l11l1l(l. and one that would produce the most rapid i
W my lleltl curing on the other. Usually, wilting the hay well in the
1. is the swath and completing the curing in small windrows produces a
SMU,] lll§`ll·§l`2\(l€ hay in 21 l`C?\SOH?ll)lC time. During rainy weather, the
ypywmg ]1l`l1l>lClll is o11e ol getting the hay cured at all, rather than ol making ·
bc my il perlect cttre. It is olten necessary, therel`ore, to cure altogether
tditions in the swath or largely in the swath and linish in cocks covered with
,e their hay caps. \\'here cotisiclerable tobacco barn space is available, cttr-
ss, it it ing may be liacilitated by spreading the partly cttred hay in thin
tlficient layers between the tiers. However. the problem ol` curing allalla
stont to hay in Kentucky is not so serious as might be inlerred lrom these
~ length 1`emarks. Tho the lirst cutting each year commonly may be poorly
mliulyyl. (lIl`Ctl becattse ol` unfavorable weather, the second and third cuttings
lollotr. can ttsttally be cttred satisl`actorily. Those two cuttings will supply
I.;tth<·t the |`arnt needs lor highest quality hay. and the lirst cutting. il poorly
{ about tttrcd. meets less exacting rottghage reqttirements.
ntttcky. Hay that has an objectionable odor may have actlttired it lrotn
er. The heating or molding in the mow, stack. or bale. or lrom loreign ma-
l l>el`orc terial or weeds that were in the held. .~\gain. it may have an odor
,1 be ctn actlttired lront the surrottndings under whiclt it is stored. lt is
in Iatl. lllll><¤1`|&111t, tlterelore, that hay not only be well cttred in the held.  

 `tl
14 /{c11Iiu·/cy E.Yf(’}lSf()ll Circular No. BH!
but also that it be stored in :1 dry place where there are no olijection.
able odors, or in a properly built stack. `
TOP-DRESSING OLD STANDS It
Broadcasting fertilizers on old alfalfa helds which still have good UI
stands is frequently profitable, as illustrated by an experiment, om. In
ducted at the \\'estern Kentucky Experiment. Substation, l)1`lllCCf<>ll, E
l’lots in a four-year»old and a five-year—old alfalfa field wl1icl1 hatl i
received an initial application of 400 pounds of lfi-percent super-  
phosphate per acre were top-dressed with an additional 500 pouiitlv  
per acre in the spring of l03l. The average annualyields per acrc  
for lSl3l-1933 were 5004 pounds of hay from the plots that had not i
been rephosphated, and 7337 pounds from those that received acl-
ditional phosphate. Observed effects of top-dressing with potasli 4
indicate that sometimes it too can be used profitably.
HARROWING TO CONTR