Alfalfa is a cool-season perennial commonly grown for feeding livestock or as a cover crop and soil conditioner. … It’s
ideal for improving the soil and providing erosion control
.
What is the fastest growing cover crop?
These fast-growing crops are used primarily to suppress weeds and add organic matter. Common choices are sudangrass (or sorghum-sudangrass) and
buckwheat
. Both grow rapidly if there is sufficient warmth, moisture and fertility.
What makes alfalfa a good cover crop?
It provides the most protein-per-acre,
reduces soil erosion and improves soil structure, moisture-holding capacity and nutrient content
. It also increases beneficial soil biota, suppresses weeds, provides habitat for beneficial predatory insects and wildlife and facilitates crop pollinators, Sheaffer said.
Which cover crop is the best?
Cover crops that provide good cover and a dense root system help stabilize soils and combat erosion.
Clovers
, annual ryegrass, Austrian winter peas, crown vetch, sudangrass, sorghum-sudan hybrids, rapeseed, mustards, and cowpeas are good cover crops for erosion protection.
Is alfalfa a good cash crop?
In addition to being an
important cash crop for growers
, alfalfa is good for our soil. … The long alfalfa stand life also gives the soil a chance to rest from frequent field crop rotations, helps provide nitrogen for subsequent crops and improves soil tilth.
What are the disadvantages of cover cropping?
A cover crop disadvantage for commercial farmers is
cost
. The crop must be planted at a time when labor as well as time is limited. Also, there is the additional cost of planting the cover crop and then tilling it back under which means more labor.
What is a no-till cover crop?
In no-till cover crop systems, the known benefits of cover crops are
maximized
by allowing them to grow until shortly before planting the vegetable or other cash crop, and by managing the cover crop without tillage. … they die down naturally in time to plant summer vegetables.
How long does alfalfa last?
Alfalfa can remain productive in stands from
four to ten years or more
, but as plant population declines renovation eventually becomes necessary.
What is the benefit of alfalfa?
Alfalfa has been shown to
help lower cholesterol
, and may also have benefits for blood sugar control and relieving symptoms of menopause. People also take it for its high content of antioxidants, vitamins C and K, copper, folate and magnesium. Alfalfa is also extremely low in calories.
How late can you plant alfalfa?
Alfalfa has a wide range of recommended seeding dates. In the Upper Midwest, alfalfa fields can be seeded anytime
from mid-April through May
. Early June for northernmost dairy regions is fine. Like with any seed, soil temperatures and soil moisture together are important for germination.
What is a good cover crop for clay soil?
Some of the best cover crops for clay soil are
clover, winter wheat, and buckwheat
. You can also select crops with deep tap roots, like alfalfa and fava beans, to pull nutrients into the top soil from the subsoil while, at the same time, breaking up the compact clay.
What is a good cover crop for tomatoes?
Oats and winter rye
make great cover crops for the tomato garden. Leave their mowed stems in place and plant transplants right through it.
What is a good winter cover crop?
Some examples of crops that will survive the winter — depending on winter temperature lows — include
winter rye, winter wheat
, hairy vetch, Austrian winter peas, and crimson clover. Winter rye and hairy vetch are recommended for the northern United States.
What is an acre of alfalfa worth?
In this example, the standing value for the entire alfalfa field could range from
$230 to $360/acre
for the entire growing season. Keep in mind ownership costs can run $300- 400/acre when the seller considers lost rent, establishment costs and top-dress fertilizer to maintain soil fertility.
How much does alfalfa yield per acre?
The average total yield is 20-35 tons per hectare (or
8-14 tons per acre
) per year (distributed in 5-6 cuts). Top yields (intensive farming) can exceed 40 tons per hectare or 16 tons per acre per year.
How much is alfalfa worth per acre?
Over a three-year average, alfalfa returns a profit of
$98.82/acre
compared to a $44.77/acre return for corn and $39.68/acre for soybeans, Miller estimated using information from Midwestern farms compiled through the FINBIN database.
