A Detailed Guide to Daily Alfalfa Management Methods and Precautions

Alfalfa, commonly known as golden flower vegetable, comes in many varieties and is a perennial flowering plant. It was originally used mostly as livestock feed, but because alfalfa's nutritional content is so high, eating it is also very beneficial to human health. Its medicinal value is also very high, with effects such as clearing the spleen and stomach and promoting urination to reduce swelling. Alfalfa has very strong growth ability, so many growers also plant alfalfa. So how should alfalfa be managed when growing it? Next, let's go over the main aspects to pay attention to regarding its planting prospects.

1. Water in time

Alfalfa consumes a lot of water and has relatively high water requirements, so during the alfalfa growing period, water management must be done well to keep the soil in a suitably moist state. However, if there is a lot of rainfall, the number of waterings can be appropriately reduced. Drainage is also something to pay attention to; the soil in the field must not become waterlogged, as this will cause alfalfa's roots to rot, and both growth speed and quality will be affected. Therefore, during the growing period, pay close attention to the condition of the soil in the field and water and drain in time.

2. Apply topdressing at the right time

Alfalfa has strong growth ability and makes no special demands on the growing environment, but if sufficient nutrients are added, alfalfa's growth speed can be further increased, thereby also increasing alfalfa's yield. During the growing period, what requires more attention is the use of base fertilizer and topdressing. Fertilizer must not be applied blindly. Base fertilizer is generally applied using diammonium phosphate and urea, while later topdressing is mainly based on urea and phosphate fertilizer. Appropriate topdressing can increase alfalfa's quality and yield.

3. Intertillage and weeding

Clearing weeds is also essential during the alfalfa growing period. The seedling stage and summer are periods when alfalfa grows relatively weakly and is easily affected by rampant weed growth. During these two periods, weed control work must be strengthened. Intertillage can improve soil quality and increase soil permeability, creating a good environment for alfalfa to absorb nutrients. Therefore, intertillage and weeding are both beneficial to alfalfa growth, and special attention can be paid to them during management.

4. Pest and disease control

Pest and disease control in alfalfa is a point that requires great attention. If not controlled in time, it will have a very serious impact on yield and quality. Common pests and diseases of alfalfa include downy mildew, aphids, leaf spot, and so on. Insecticides such as carbendazim, thiophanate, and dimethoate can be used for control. Preventive work should be done in advance, and pest and disease control management should be especially strengthened during the growing and management period.

5. Check seedlings and fill gaps

During the alfalfa growing and management period, observe alfalfa's growth condition. When clearing weeds, you can check whether the seedlings are growing normally. If you find weaker, smaller seedlings, you can remove the seedlings to give the strong seedlings sufficient nutrients. If you find gaps where seedlings are missing in the field, healthy seedlings should also be planted in time. Checking seedlings and filling gaps is also an aspect to pay attention to during management. Only by focusing on management work can quality be enhanced and yield increased.