Alfalfa planting time and method

Alfalfa planting time

Alfalfa has strong adaptability to the environment and can be sown in spring, summer and autumn. The planting time in spring is from mid-April to late May. Weeds are likely to appear in summer so weed prevention should be paid attention to. The planting time in autumn is from mid-August to late September.

Alfalfa planting method

1. Site selection

Alfalfa is suitable for planting in neutral or slightly alkaline soil with deep soil layer, loose and fertile soil, good drainage and pH value of 6.5-7.5. It is necessary to renovate the soil in advance, remove weeds thoroughly, and combine land preparation with base fertilizer application to improve soil fertility.

2. Seed treatment

Alfalfa seeds need to be cleaned in advance and dried in the sun to make the seed purity reach 90%. Before sowing, you can mix the seeds with pesticides, herbicides, rhizobia and fertilizers to reduce the occurrence of diseases and pests. Mixing the seeds with bacterial fertilizers such as rhizobia can increase yields.

3. Sowing method

Generally, row sowing is adopted with row spacing of 30 to 40 cm. Alfalfa seeds are very small and the sowing depth depends on the type of soil. Shallow sowing is applied in wet soil and deeper in dry soil, generally 2 to 3 cm, and 3 to 4 cm in sandy soil. Compact the soil after sowing.

Alfalfa planting precautions

After sowing alfalfa, you need to observe the growth of the seedlings, thin out the seedlings in time, and ensure the planting density. In addition, alfalfa has many diseases and pests, so you can spray pesticides in time and trim the diseased and insect-infested branches and leaves. However, the fundamental prevention and control measures lie in choosing varieties with strong disease resistance and mixing the seeds with drugs before sowing.