Alfalfa

Alfalfa

Ranking the third most profitable crop in the United States it is home to around 23 million acres of alfalfa. Alfalfa is primarily used as feed for livestock due to its high nutritional value, which helps improve reproductive performance, increase weight gain, and improve bone structure. Because of this high feed value, alfalfa is known as the “Queen of Forages”. California is the top producer of Alfalfa in the United States and it is also growing in many other Western states in areas with well-drained soil.

Canada is also home to over 7 million acres of alfalfa which is grown in every province. While much of the alfalfa in Canada is grown for feed Canada is also known as a major exporter of alfalfa seed with much of the seed production being in Alberta.

Alfalfa with a nitrogen deficiency will cause plants to be stunted and look spindly with dark green to yellow leaves. Plants deficient in nitrogen will also tend to mature early with lower yields and poorer feed quality.

Alfalfa plants will appear stunted with blue-green leaves when deficient in phosphorus. More severe deficiencies will cause leaves to distort with dark green tissue and dead areas on the leaves. In most cases phosphorus deficiencies in alfalfa is hard to detect.

Potassium deficiencies appear first on the older leaves that appear as leaf spot and/or yellowing along the leaf margins. Potassium deficiencies in alfalfa can lead to more disease susceptibility.

A sulfur deficiency in alfalfa will cause light green leaves to first turn this color on the younger leaves. Similar symptoms to Nitrogen and Phosphorus.

Magnesium deficiency will cause alfalfa plants to experience interveinal chlorosis on the younger leaves. Deficiencies are seen more in sandy soil or in wet conditions because magnesium is easily leached.

Boron deficiencies in alfalfa are often confused with leafhopper damage. Plants appear to have yellowing leaves with shortened stems and a dense top section.

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