What are the methods for selecting and raising alfalfa seeds?

Alfalfa, also known as purple medic, lucerne, etc., is a perennial herbaceous plant of the genus Medicago in the Fabaceae family. Because of its high protein content and relatively rich content of calcium, phosphorus and various vitamins, it has long enjoyed the reputation of "king of forage grasses" in the livestock industry. In China it is a cultivated plant, and it is now grown in countries around the world. It is an excellent forage plant, can be used as green manure, and can also be used as medicine. So how do you select alfalfa seeds? What are the seedling-raising methods? Let's take a look together below.

1. How do you select alfalfa seeds?

Alfalfa seeds are relatively small. The seeds are oval, generally 1-2.5 mm long, smooth, and yellow or brown. When planting alfalfa, you must choose plump seeds free of mold. You can choose Algonquin or introduced varieties with strong stress resistance and high yield.

Alfalfa grows especially slowly in the early stage, so during the seedling stage you must sow at a time that avoids the season when weeds grow wildly. Only careful and intensive cultivation can favor the germination of alfalfa seeds and a uniform emergence rate.

2. What are the seedling-raising methods for alfalfa?

1. Land preparation for planting

Alfalfa seeds are relatively small, and growth during the seedling stage is relatively slow. Before sowing, the land needs fine preparation, and the weeds in the field need to be thoroughly removed. Deep plowing and fine harrowing are required so that the ground is level, the soil is crumbly, and there are no weeds. Finally, sufficient base fertilizer is applied in the plowed field. Choose organic fertilizer as the base fertilizer, and it must be decomposed organic fertilizer. When planting alfalfa, you must choose loose, fertile acidic soil close to a water source for planting, and you can also choose to plant with sandy soil.

2. Sowing time

It is divided into spring sowing and autumn sowing. In Wenquan County, spring sowing is generally from late March to early May, and sowing can be done once the ground temperature stabilizes above 5°C. Autumn sowing is generally at the end of August and the beginning of September, so that alfalfa has about 60 days of growth time before winter arrives. After autumn sowing, the soil moisture is good, weed damage is light, and the emergence rate and survival rate are relatively high, making it a relatively ideal sowing time.

3. Sowing and raising seedlings

The seeds to be sown must be cleaned, screened, and sun-dried, and the seed purity must reach 90 percent. Before sowing, bacterial fertilizers such as rhizobium fertilizer can be fully mixed with the seeds. Generally, 1 kilogram of rhizobium can be mixed with 10 kilograms of seeds, which can increase yield. When sowing, ensure the temperature can remain within 25 degrees, and sufficient water is also needed, but there must be no standing water in the field.

4. Seedling stage management

First, inspect the seedlings. If dead or collapsed seedlings are found, replant or straighten them promptly, and also water and fertilize the young seedlings. The growth of alfalfa needs sufficient water, but there must be no standing water in the field. If standing water appears, it must be drained promptly. Once alfalfa matures, it can be harvested, but after each harvest be sure to remember to fertilize and weed, which can promote the growth of alfalfa's branches and leaves. Its regrowth ability is relatively strong, and it can be cut two to five times per year, but in most places cutting three times per year is appropriate.

The above is an introduction to alfalfa. Alfalfa is a perennial forage variety. Because the seeds are small and growth during the seedling stage is slow, when planting, try to avoid the season when weeds grow wildly, apply sufficient base fertilizer, with farmyard manure being best, pay attention to drainage prevention during the rainy season, and harvest promptly at the early flowering stage to prevent lodging.

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