Improving Forage Production and Longevity of Alfalfa Stands with Balanced Fertilization
To determine the influence of balanced fertilization on forage production, longevity of alfalfa stands, weed population and disease severity.
IPNI-2000-CAN-SK26
14 May 2001
2000 Annual Interpretive Summary
Improving Forage Production and Longevity of Alfalfa Stands with Balanced Fertilization, 2000
In northeastern Saskatchewan, alfalfa is grown on approximately 200,000 acres for the dehydrated alfalfa pellet market. Alfalfa for seed is grown on over 120,000 acres in western Canada. In the absence of nutrient inputs, alfalfa cannot maintain its original productivity after about three years of production, a result of weeds dominating the stands. Improved soil fertility can make alfalfa out compete weeds and increase the longevity of stands by several years. This research was initiated to determine the influence of balanced fertilization on forage production, seed yield, longevity of alfalfa seed stands, weed populations, and disease severity.
Alfalfa forage yields were significantly increased with the addition of S
fertilizer in 2000, while P and K had no effect. However, the alfalfa seed yield was significantly increased over the unfertilized check with the addition of P and K alone, with further yield increases recorded when S was added. Ratings of the stand for weed populations and disease revealed no differences among treatments in the first year of this project. Continued monitoring of this site will help to identify the rate of nutrient draw down by the alfalfa and its impact on alfalfa hay and seed yield and quality. SK-26F