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| 1) I'm speculating to torture you horribly in future years. I say this jokingly, but some seeds that delay germination are there to show up in later years. I've got fields 3 years out of production that RR alfalfa plant "weeds" keep showing up in. Further, birds and other animals take this seed to other areas to start problems there too!
2) Definitely sometimes. I've ran sweeps over an alfalfa field to as part of killing and leveling it. Kills some plants, some seem to grow back stronger than ever. (Not "new" plants, though, as far as I know) Not sure if that's a happier plant or just less competition. I wouldn't recommend it as a fix, final stand isn't good, although I've also lightly touched a decent field with a disc for the same leveling intent and been reasonably pleased. Does not work for me to get new plants established.
Anyway, auto-toxicity is definitely a thing for us. I planted alfalfa a couple years in the fall with a 100% chance of rain the next day. Well, none came, nor for the rest of the fall, and have replanted stands in the following spring. I've had generally good luck with that when the established plants are less than 1 year. Even so, spring plants were generally stunted in areas of better fall growth for almost 2 years before the field seemed to even out the plants. By the time alfalfa's been established for over a year, if there is 1 plant per square foot or more, forget about it here. It's a complete waste of time & money.
For dying fields taking them out for 2 years and then back in seems to be our only long-term fix. We can plant in oats or the like for a grass-alfalfa mix to improve poor areas, but I'd prefer just to have the good field of alfalfa. Plus, it's a good chance to level and get the diggin' critters moving on too. Back to back corn on corn is nice with the N-boost if you do grain or I've liked sorghum-sudan if you need tonnage ...albeit, not sure how that works in your cooler weather. I enjoy the good yield bump after a couple years rotation out anyway as soon as you're through the establishment year. Good luck!
P.S. If someone knows of a line of alfalfa with tested / certified no auto-toxicity, please share! Thank you in advance! | |
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Alfalfa
