—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, September 9,1978
112
Alfalfa
o Continued from Page 111)
Testing for spotted alfalfa
aphid resistance has been
under way at Waterman-
Loomis since 1960 and, at
present, all W-L varieties
exhibit resistance to this
insect.
The blue alfalfa aphid
(Acyrthosipbon Kondoi
(Shinji)) was first found in
the Imperial Valley of
California in 1975. Since that
tune, it has spread through
out the western United
States in all states west of
the Rockies. Identification of
this insect has also been
made in Oklahoma, Kansas,
lowa, and Nebraska but as of
yet has not been a problem
in the midwestem U.S. A,
bond'd prefers feeding on
young succulent plant parts
more so than older steins
and leaves. The aphid
colonies cluster on the
terminal growth and
congregate on the tender
shoots beneath the older
leaves. Nymphs and adults
feed on plant juices and
while feeding mject or
transmit a toxin into the
plant which causes stunting.
The stunted plants take on a
grayish-green color and
have deformed or curled
leaves. Infestations occur in
the fall and spring. Research
for this insect started at W.L
in 1975.
The pea aphid (Acyr
tbosipbon pisum (Harris)
was probably introduced
from Europe to the U.S. in
the late 1800’s It was first
identified as a pest on peas in
1899 and then in 1921 an
outbreak of pea aphid on
alfalfa in Kansas and
neighboring states caused
severe damage The pea
aphid spread over the entire
Umted States. Nymphs and
adults feeding on alfalfa
plants cause the plants to
turn pale yellow, wilt and
sometimes die. Testing for
pea aphid resistance started
in 1966 in greenhouse and
field tests and continued
testing and field selections
have led to resistant
varieties.
Major diseases to consider
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FARM SERVICE
Qoarryvil/e, PA
Phone 717-786 7318
in selecting a-variety are
bacterial wilt, Phytophthora
root rot, southern an
thracnose and Fusanum wilt
and root rot.
Bacterial
(Corynecbacterium in
sidiosum (McCull) H.L.
Jens) was first described in
1926. It causes stunting and
yellowing of the entire plant.
The leaves are small,
chlorotic and often cupped.
During warm or dry
weather, the plant wilts and
dies. Waterman-Loomis has
been working on and
releasing resistant varieties
since the mid 1960’5.
Phytophthora root rot
(Phytophthora megasperma
(Drechs.)) occurs on poorly
drained soil, in low areas or
areas with sod conditions
that cause a high water table
and also during periods of
excessive rainfall. The
fungus attacks seedlings as
well as older plants and
causes rotting of the root
from the base toward the
crown of the plant. This
disease is spread across the
U.S. and W-L has been
developing resistant and
tolerant varieties since the
late 1960’5.
Southern anthracnose
(colletotrichum trifolii
(Bam)) was recognized as a
problem of alfalfa in the
1950’s and is considered to be
the principle cause of
“summer decline” of alfalfa
in the eastern United States
Symptoms are large sunken
lesions on the stems near the
soil level This disease may
also move into the crown
area causing a charcoal
black discoloration moving
downward in the root from
the 'crown There has been
continuing research at W-L
for this disease since 1969.
Fusanum wilt and
Fusarium root rot
(Fusarium spp.) has not
been considered a major
disease of alfalfa but is
gaming m importance as a
factor associated with stand
longevity. Symptoms of this
disease are stems on one
side of the crown wilting and
dying. Brown to red streaks
occur in the woody cylinder
of the root The fungus lives
in the soil and enters the
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Ph 717 393-3906
1305 Manheim Pike
Lancaster PA 17601
small roots or injuries in the
root.
Wide distribution of in
sects and diseases in alfalfa
growmg areas emphasize
the importance of selecting
area adapted varieties with
multiple pest resistance.
Once the proper variety has
been chosen, then attention
should be shifted to the type
of cultural practices that will
optimize yield and stand
longevity.
Alfalfa needs prune land;
clean and free of weeds and
with fertile, well-drained
soil. Soils m the United
States do not always meet
these requirements, which
creates the necessity of
adjusting soil conditions to
meet the crop’s needs.
Soil fertility is determined
by soil probe and-or shovel
will help identify the soil
morphology and any
restricting soil layers.
Chemical tests are used in
determing soil pH, nutrient
levels and electro
conductivity as well as other
problems. Reputable soil
labs will be aware of
localized problems which
occur in their areas and also
test the samples for these
items.
wilt
Soil reaction (pH) is im
portant m the maintenance
of healthy alfalfa. Alfalfa
requires a neutral to slightly
alkaline soil pH. Soils with a
pH of 7.0 or less are con
sidered acid and those
greater than 7.0 are alkaline
or basic. Generally, acid
soils are deficient in the
amounts of available
calcium and phosphorus and
may have excess iron or
aluminum and possible other
metahc ions. The addition of
lime will raise the soil pH
and tend to counteract some
deficiencies or toxicities. In
the case of basic soils, sulfur
or phosphoric acid may be
used to lower soil pH to
acceptable levels. Gypsum
may be used to supply the
alfalfa plants with calcium
and sulfur but will not
change the soil pH.
Due to alfalfa’s capacity to
absorb and utilize soil
nutrients, special attention
to fertility levels are
essential One ton of alfalfa
hay requires in excess of 40
pounds of nitrogen and
Get all-crop versatility, plus electrically
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11l
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AGRICULTURAL RD I, Myerstown, Pa.
EQUIPMENT located 1 Mile S. of Int. 78 & 6 Miles
N. of Myerstown on Rt. 645 in Frystown
PHONE: 717-933-4138
potassium 10 to 12 pounds of
phosphates, nearly 30
pounds of calcium and 5
pounds each of sulfur and
magnesium. In areas with
longer growmg seasons, the
use of split applications has
been beneficial for more
uniform plant growth
throughout the growing
season. In a split application
of fertilizer, of the amount
of fertilizer is applied after
the first harvest and a
second application is made
at the middle of the harvest
season.
Once the macro and micro
nutrients and soil reaction
have been dealt with, soil
and seed bed preparation
begin. The soil should be
deep and well-drained to
promote good root growth.
To insure this, subsoiling,
chiseling and other deep
tillage practices are used.
Soil cultivation also helps
incorporate any soil
amendments and nutrients
that were added to the soil.
Maximum tillage with
minimum wheel traffic over
the field will be of greatest
benefit to the crop. The seed
bed should be free of clods
and firm to insure good seed
to soil contact after planting.
Once the soil is prepared for
planting, soil moisture
should be taken into con
sideration. Pre-irrigation is
often used to provide
adequate moisture for the
germination and
establishment of an alfalfa
stand. Plantmg on moist soil
is best, but irrigation or
rainfall is often used after
the crop is planted. The
latter is not recommended
as often because it is difficult
to put on larg§ enough
quantities of water after the
seed has been planted and
crusting of soil surface also
occurs which inhibits the
seed’s emergence.
In irrigated areas of the
western United States, an
irrigation schedule and a
harvesting schedule should
be established. Alfalfa
requires 6 to 7 inches of
water to produce one ton of
air dry hay. The frequency
of irrigation is dependent on
the soil and climatic con
ditions of the area. One, but
not more than two
irrigations should be applied
Sj
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between harvest. Too
frequent watering will
establish disease conditions
that would be unfavorable
for the crop. The field should
be dry enough at harvest
tune to prevent soil com
paction from harvesting
equipment. This is generally
accomplished if the final
irrigation is applied seven to
10 days before harvest.
The harvesting schedule is
crucial in the production of
healthy hay. Alfalfa top
growth is initiated at the
expense of the root food
reserves As the top growth
matures, excess photo
synthates and metabolites
are trans-located to the roots
to replenish and re-establish
root reserves that were
utilized for forage produc
tion. A short harvesting
schedule does not aUo w for
enough tune for the plant to
restore root reserves.
Continued harvesting on a
shortened schedule will
eventually deplete the root
reserves and kill the plants.
High capacity Fine-cut performance Simple, easy control
All help make your harvest more productive, more profit
able Interchangeable quick-attach drive-in crop units for
row crops or hay pickup Row crop, 2-row adjustable for
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helix 12-knife cutterheads cut 3/16-m lengths without
recutter screen Fingertip electric controls for feeding and
discharge
• 720 for tractors up to 130 PTO hp , 830 for tractors up to
175 PTO hp
• Dual electric clutches remote controlled for start, stop,
reverse of feed system
• Large diameter feed rolls automatically adjust to crop
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• Remote electrical control of discharge deflector and
spout direction
• Hydra-Sharp knife sharpener bevels as it sharpens for
maximum cutting efficiency
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Extended length in
schedules means lost har;
vests and possible reduction
of yield and quality. To
determine the proper tutting
dates, it is necessary to
utilize maturity signs from
the plants. Alfalfa is' nor
mally harvested at late bud
stage to 1-10 bloom or when
50 to 60 per cent of the crown
buds are less than Vz inch
tall. The latter method is
preferred since it is possible
that bloom will not occur in
the field because of drouth
stripping or insect damage
which would remove the
presence of any flower buds.
With correctly spaced and
timed harvest, more cut
tings and higher yields may
be realized.
To conclude, it should be
emphasized that a
productive, high yielding
alfalfa field requires
superior alfalfa varieties
and diligent application of
correct management'.’
practices.
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