How are pests and diseases controlled when planting alfalfa in autumn and winter?

Alfalfa is a perennial leguminous forage grass with the earliest cultivation and the widest distribution in the world. It not only has high grass yield, excellent grass quality and high nutritional value, but is also cold-resistant, drought-resistant, tolerant of barren soil, highly adaptable, and suitable for a very wide range of planting areas. It is the first choice of forage grass for increasing dairy cow milk production and developing the beef cattle industry.

Under China's “grain-to-feed” policy, many farmers have begun to join the ranks of alfalfa growers. So in the coming autumn and winter seasons, how should planted alfalfa be protected against pests and diseases?

1. Stubble clearing after autumn

After the autumn harvest is completed, pathogens will overwinter on the stubble left on the soil surface. Clearing the stubble at this stage will destroy a large number of pest and disease organisms and reduce the infection rate in the coming year.

2. Targeted grazing

For pests and diseases that are easy to eliminate, the alfalfa stubble can be grazed so that pests and pathogens are eaten, destroyed or carried away.

3. Burning the stubble

Burning the stubble is quite effective for eliminating pests and diseases, but attention must be paid to fire prevention.

4. Winter irrigation

Winter irrigation can worsen the living conditions of pests and diseases, inhibit or kill pest and disease organisms, and help alfalfa overwinter and green up again the following year.

5. Pesticide control of pests and diseases

After the autumn harvest, spraying the surface once with a pesticide plus New High-Fat Film can effectively prevent all kinds of pests and diseases and minimize pesticide residues in alfalfa products the following year.

In general, the common pests of alfalfa mainly include aphids, plant bugs, leafminer flies and so on, which can be controlled by spraying 40% dimethoate emulsifiable concentrate diluted 1000 times with water or by using fenvalerate and similar products. Common alfalfa diseases include powdery mildew, downy mildew, rust and brown spot, which can be controlled with carbendazim, thiophanate-methyl and similar products.

Alfalfa, known as the “king of forage grasses”, is currently an “internet celebrity in the agricultural planting world”. Under normal circumstances, one mu of alfalfa can support 12-15 sheep. With favorable policies now in place, it is highly recommended for farmers to plant it.