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| The #1 predictor of alfalfa yield AFTER rainfall or irrigation is plant count.
When you disc your alfalfa you are splitting crowns. 99% for sure (only because I’ve learned never to be 100%) you are not creating new plants. When you split the crowns you might reinvigorate the plant in a way but you are also damaging it and letting disease into the crown. If you question this- get your shovel out and find out. You can learn a lot with a shovel. My guess- with a shovel and some research you are going to learn what kind of crown rot you are introducing with your crown splitting.
Many years ago guys here used to run an alfalfa “rejuvenator”. Looking at it now, I would call it a field cultivator. That is an antiquated practice. With today’s ability to knock back weeds prior to establishment or use herbicides if needed- alfalfa “rejuvenators” are no longer used.
These are good questions. I ask them often myself as an alfalfa grower, however, there is a lot of research to Google and several dozen articles to read about these questions you ask. | |
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Alfalfa / autotoxicity
