E4—UmcattT Fwwlm, Saturday, Jwn 2,1984 By Dr. John E. Baylor Director of Market Development Beachley-Hardy Seed Company High yields of alfalfa, 8 tons or more per acre, in Pennsylvania are no longer a myth. They’re a reality - as proven by 7 years findings in the Pennsylvania Alfalfa Growers’ Program, Data gained from the program also clearly shows that producers with high yields generally have lower unit costs and higher net returns per acre compared with low yield producers. But high yielding, profitable alfalfa stands don’t just happen. They’re the result of putting a lot of production know-how to work. And a sound fertility program is cer tainly an important link in your alfalfa production chain. To begin with, a sound alfalfa fertility program must include lime. Alfalfa has a sweet tooth. It struggles in "sour” or acid soil and thrives in “sweet” soil. It may grow at a lower PH, but, for many reasons, it yields best when the PH is 6.7-7.0. And, based on many years of research, best results come from correcting your PH problem well m advance of establishing the stand. So much for lime. Just accept the fact it is important. Ijet’s turn our attention to several of the important plant nutrients required to grow a good alfalfa crop. It’s well known that those 7-8 ton yields remove lots of plant nutrients. How much? Look at the nutrient uptake in the following table at several yeild levels as summarized by L.L. Lanyon from 5 years data in the Pennsylvania Alfalfa Growers’ Program. Yield Group (tons/A @ 10% HoO up to 4 4- 5- 6- 7- overS It’s obvious that the uptake of nitrogen (N) and potash (KjO) is the greatest of all nutrients. Of course, alfalfa is a legume and is among the most efficient fixers of N from the air. Thus N rarely limits alfalfa production. Potash, however, which is taken up in even larger amounts, must come from the soil. Thus, if soil fertility and 7 to 8 ton alfalfa yields are to be maintained, these heavy demands for potash (nearly 65 lbs. removed per ton) must be an ticipated and incorporated into the soil fertility program on your farm. Phosphate (P 205) is also very inportant to profitable alfalfa production. Even though uptake is only about one-fifth as much as for N and K2O (about 15 lbs. per ton of P 205) you must provide for phosphate needs in your alfalfa fertility program. Alfalfa also takes up calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and sulfur (S) in substantial amounts which in the harvested forage are more Central Michigan Tractor & Parts 2713 N. US 27, St Johns, Ml 48879 CaN The I Professionals I I .M V Toll Free: r rnl 1-800-248-9263 V I J Michigan Res.: *X! 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That s particles out so birds can consume them the bottom line with a system that with the water cuts labor and keeps birds alive and Installation is a snap too with SWISH s productive new cups they simply snap into the Get all the facts about our new cup desired location and the hose attaches and other SWISH innovations See your to the water line outlet These are some SWISH distributor or contact us lbs. removed/acre N P 2 0 5 K 2 O Ca Mg S B 51 229 88 15 16 .20 66 301 108 19 20 .25 78 352 132 24 25 .30 92 423 145 26 29 .33 108 503 167 30 34 .37 124 585 202 35 42 .43 than doubled as top yields are achieved. Sufficient quantities of Ca & Mg have often been indirectly maintained through a good liming program. In the past, sulfur has been added to many soils when ordinary superphosphate was applied. In general this source of sulfur may no longer be significant. Thus, sulfur status is one you should watch, especially on coarse-textured, low organic matter soils or those that do not receive manure. The uptake of the micronutrient boron (B) looks, and is, small compared with the so called major nutrients. But boron is very im portant and needs to be applied annually to your alfalfa crop in order to achieve maximum production. Let’s put this all in perspective in terms of a fertility program for top alfalfa production. To begin with top producers in the alfalfa growers’ program used soil tests as their guide to developing a sound long range PATENTED VALVE IS KEY TO OUR PERFORMANCE Orifice (A) torce* water onto 1- ~Ij ] p* deflector (B) lip (C| divert* >l ' —^ down to suspend feed (0) W The NEW SWISI iH —total commitment to qi NORTHEAST AGRI SYSTEMS, INC PO Box 187 Fitchville, CT 06334 Phone (203)642-7529 fertility program. And soil tests from many of the fields in the program indicate a high level of fertility at the time the alfalfa seeding was made. Furthermore, most top producers, mainly dairymen, used lots of cow manure m the com phase of their com - alfalfa rotation, assuring high levels of potash in the soil. Results from the program, together with several research studies, indicate that for top yields and long lived stands (based on nutrient removal) you should apply up to 100 pounds of phosphate and 400 pounds of potash per acre annually. That’s more than is generally recommended for yield levels of 5 to 6 tons per acre. There is evidence to suggest at these rates split applications of the potash, after first and last cutting, results in more efficient use of this nutrient. Boron at the rate of 2 to 3 pounds per acre should also be applied on an annual basis. Based on cost of production records form the alfalfa growers’ program, fertilizer represents nearly 20% of the annual cost of growing an acre of alfalfa. But there’s also plenty of evidence to suggest you can expect a $2 - $3 return for each dollar invested in a sound fertility program. L t tt i t • Liquid Manure Pumps -111 l IZ • ELECTROMIX W W • Barn Cleaner Chains hhhShh • Bedding Choppers Hll IHS • Silage Carts • Manure Tanks From W&JDAIRY SALES 717-529-2569 juality t service swTsh Local Representative DAVID NEWMAN (717) 299-9905 uatermg systems now a division of CTB Inc
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