By Dr. John E. Baylor
Director of Market Development
Beachley-Hardy Seed Company
It’s May! Mowers, hay con
ditioners and forage harvesters
are all tuned up. And alfalfa
growers throughout the region are
geared up to move in for that first
big harvest of ‘B6.
We all know that timing of that
first harvest is very important. But
yield and nutritive quality are, of
course, very much a function of
when you harvest. But when you
make that first cutting, and how
you handle it, also pretty much
determines the total number of
harvests you’ll make this year..
And it may influence the recovery
of any stands uhat have been
damaged during winter.
In this week’s column I’d like to
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take a look with you at some of the
things we know about how alfalfa
grows and develops - and how this
growth and development are af
fected by your cutting
management this spring.
To Begin
At this point let’s assume you are
already growing an adapted
variety or varieties such as WL 316
or WL 320 with multiple pest
resistance, i.e. moderate to high
resistance to the major diseases
attacking alfalfa in your area.
Let’s also assume you’re main
taining a sound fertility program
for alfalfa - pH 6.7 or above - and
adequate levels or phosphate,
potash and the other essential
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nutrients. And, finally, let’s
assume you have or are prepared
to handle any insect and weed
pressures that may be present in
your area. Removing these
stresses does, of course, make
intensive cutting management,
four or more cuts per year, more
realistic without fear of losing your
stand. So don’t ignore these key
management principles!
Where Growth Originates
As you check your alfalfa fields
• this month you’ll note that most of
the spring growth comes from
crown buds that were formed last
( fall. Some of those crown buds did,
however, develop early this spring
.before initiation of any new
growth. Obviously, then, the
' ability of these plants to produce a'
‘ big first cutting this year starts
with the health of the plants last
fall, and the number of buds for
med at that time. A sound
management program last fall,
adequate levels of fertility and
plenty of food reserves in the roots
are all factors leading to healthy
plants.
About Alfalfa Leaves
Now let’s turn our attention to
alfalfa leaves. Leaves, of course,
are vital to the growth and quality
of the crop. They have higher
concentrations of crude protein,
total digestible nutrients, fat, ash,
total nonstructural carbohydrates
and minerals than steins. And the
digestibility and crude protein
concentration of leaves decline
more slowly with increased
maturity than that of stems. Why?
Because as the plants mature the
fiber constituents of the stem in
crease rapidly, experts tell us.
Leaves make up a greater
portion of the total yield for early
cut alfalfa. For example, the leaf
to-stem ratio of healthy alfalfa at
early flowering is about 50-50. By
late bloom only 40 percent of the
total yield is leaves. This is
especially true for first cutting.
Leaf loss, therefore, along with
maturity, has a major effect on
quality. And after early flowering,
loss of lower leaves can occur
rapidly as a result of shading,
aging and leaf diseases.
What About
Cutting Height?
for alfalfa we haven’t
worried too much about cutting
height as long as crown buds are
not damaged. And, of course, you
normally get higher total yields
with short stubble if the plants are
healthy.
But we also know that cutting
height can influence yield and
survival of alfalfa where root
reserves are low due to frequent
cutting. Leaving a tall stubble
permits a greater leaf area that
provides additional energy for the
initial growth after cutting.
Furthermore, with frequent
cuttings, where fewer crown buds
exist, a taller stubble provides
more sites for axillary bud
development.
All in all if your stand is healthy,
except for the last cut this fall, a
cutting height of about 2 inches
should be okay. But if your stand is
weak for any reason, raising the
cutter bar another inch or two
could be beneficial.
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Lancaster Farming, Saturday, May 3,1986-C5
So far we’ve taken a brief look at
the alfalfa plant itself. Now let’s
sum up in terms of managing your
first cutting this year.
As indicated previously, crown
buds are the origin of growth for
the first crop this year. Regrowth,
however, occurs from either crown
buds or axillary buds on stems. If
your first harvest is delayed, new
growth will occur from these
crown buds. And because of the
frequent association between
crown bud development, alfalfa
maturity, and root reserves, some
growers have suggested that shoot
elongation is a good indicator that
the crop is ready to cut. And it may
be helpful. But in this area where
winter-dormant varieties are
grown, crown bud development is
not better indicator than stage of
growth, and probably not as good.
Why? Because while it’s true that
certain weather conditions may
affect floral bud development
these same factors also influence
new shoot elongation.
Thus, everything considered,
stage of growth is still your best
guide to know when to cut. And for
first harvest of established stands,
the best time to cut is when the
majority of the plants reach full
bud or are just showing a sprinkle
of flowers.
And, since getting that first
cutting off and into storage fast
and at the peak of quality is so
important in terms of your later
harvests, it’s good to have your
strategy planned for handling that
first crop. During the past several
years top growers in the Penn
sylvania Alfalfa Growers Program
solved that problem by storing the
first cutting as wilted or low
moisture hay crop silage.
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Putting It Together
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