Production Practices which Reduce Alfalfa Diseases

• Prepare land before planting so the field has a uniform slope without low spots. A firm seed bed free of clods is necessary to get a good stand.
• Plant resistant varieties: Selecting the right variety is probably the most important decision to make in producing alfalfa. Resistant varieties offer the greatest protection from diseases as well as insects and nematodes. Always select a variety that is adapted to the area. Then select within the adapted varieties for the ones that show tolerance to diseases of concern in the area.
• Plant certified seed to insure getting pure seed of the desired variety.
• Treat seed with a fungicide such as thiram or captan to help prevent seed rots. Seed treatment often makes the difference between getting a good thick stand or a poor stand.
• Inoculate seed with nitrogen-fixing bacteria to increase yield and growth of alfalfa if planted on new land or on land that has not had alfalfa on it for several years.
• Plant in the fall to get the crop off to a better start. Fall planting is preferred because the seedlings usually have fewer weeds to compete with, and most weeds die with the first frost.
• Use the correct amount of fertilizer to obtain a healthy, vigorous, high yielding crop. Twenty pounds of nitrogen at planting time helps the seedlings get established while nodules are developing on their roots. Alfalfa is a high user of phosphorus and responds well to this element in most areas of the state. Apply 90 to 120 pounds of P2O5 depending upon a soil test.
• Irrigate properly. Alfalfa requires a lot of water to yield well. Alfalfa yields are higher, and it is less susceptible to root and crown rot diseases if light, frequent irrigations are used. Good drainage is needed.
• Cut during the early bloom stage to obtain high quality of hay. Early cutting helps prevent leaf diseases since tall, rank growth favors disease development. Early cutting also reduces losses of leaves when rust, down mildew, and leaf spot diseases are developing.
• Plow out thin stands of alfalfa when unprofitable. Alfalfa fields should be rotated to small grains, sorghum, or some other crops for at least two years before seeding back to alfalfa.