Frosty berseem clover mixed with alfalfa can boost yields of hay by almost 30%. If your alfalfa field is now 5 or 6 years old and starting to lose fullness, overseeding that field with Frosty berseem clover might be a way to beef up your hay harvest through the summer.
Is clover better than alfalfa?
Clover also has polyphenol oxidase enzymes that inhibit protein breakdown for more bypass protein — 25-35% — than alfalfa — 15-25% — thus enabling lower-cost rations as they have less added, very expensive bypass protein.
Are alfalfa and clover related?
The name alfalfa is used in North America. The name lucerne is the more commonly used name in the United Kingdom, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. The plant superficially resembles clover (a cousin in the same family), especially while young, when trifoliate leaves comprising round leaflets predominate.
What is the best crop to plant after alfalfa?
The best rotational crops following alfalfa are cereal crops and annual forage grasses. Small grains can benefit from nitrogen released after alfalfa is plowed. Corn and sorghum could also follow alfalfa in those areas where rainfall is adequate or where irrigation is available.
Is alfalfa a good companion plant?
Alfalfa often may be seeded with a companion crop like oats to control weeds and erosion and provide a crop of grain or hay. Clear seeding alfalfa alone, without a companion crop, also works well.
What do deer like better clover or alfalfa?
Deer prefer the alfalfa. They keep it mowed down. When I mow the plot it’s due to the height of the clover, and the alfalfa has no problem growing up through the clippings, but the clippings are never very heavy. My clover will green up earlier in the spring, and stay green later in the year.
Whats better for deer white or red clover?
Our research found that red clover consistently rated very high compared to other deer forages – including cereal grains, annual and perennial clovers, brassicas, alfalfa, and others – with regard to many of the important features we looked at.
Can you plant red clover with alfalfa?
Overall, 50:50 was the optimal mixing ratio of alfalfa with red clover, showing good fermentation quality with lower pH and higher lactic acid concentration, reduced protease activities and proteolysis compared with pure alfalfa silage, and also more total N content than pure red clover silage.
Does alfalfa deplete soil?
In addition, alfalfa roots can be expected to deplete soil nitrate to a 10-foot depth (Kranz, et al., 2005).
Is red clover better than alfalfa?
However, even though production of milk protein was not affected by diets, red clover-grass appears to be more effective than alfalfa-grass to increase plasma concentration of essential amino acids.
Can you overseed clover with alfalfa?
SEED IN HAND: Frosty berseem clover seed can be treated or untreated and used either as part of a forage cover crop mix or overseeded into alfalfa fields to increase nutritional value and yield.
How many years does alfalfa last?
Alfalfa can remain productive in stands from four to ten years or more, but as plant population declines renovation eventually becomes necessary.
Do you have to reseed alfalfa every year?
Re-seeding alfalfa to fix poor stands
Alfalfa is a crop that naturally tends to lessen its density over time because alfalfa doesn’t reseed itself. Planting more alfalfa into current alfalfa fields is not recommended since alfalfa has autotoxicity characteristics.
What grass grows best with alfalfa?
Meadow fescue and orchardgrass
This cool-season grass is a viable forage choice for alfalfa-grass mixtures. For lactating cow forage, the mixture of alfalfa with meadow fescue and tall fescue resulted in higher yields and higher-quality forage compared to alfalfa alone.
When should alfalfa be planted?
If you have land available for alfalfa in late summer, optimal seeding dates are July 15 through August in the Upper Midwest and closer to July 15 for northernmost regions. For growers in warmer climates, seeding into early September is acceptable.
Where does alfalfa grow best?
Alfalfa does well on well-drained soil rather than wet, heavy clay soils and requires good soil pH ranging from 6.5 to 7.0. If your soil pH is lower than 6.5, symbiotic nitrogen fixation may not function properly. Thus, liming will be required to raise low soil pH to its optimum level and make better nutrient uptake.
Will deer eat a bale of alfalfa?
Re: Alfalfa Bales
there is a lot of alfalfa grown around me and it works really well. I use about 1/4 bale and tear it apart, shake it into a fluffy pile. If it’s good quality the deer will eat it like candy.
Do you have to mow alfalfa?
Clover, alfalfa and chicory are the perennials that you may plant in some of your green fields that will need to be mowed.
When should you plant alfalfa for deer?
When to Plant. You may seed alfalfa in either the spring or fall. In the spring, plant April 15 to 30. In the fall, plant August 1 to 15.
What is the best time to plant clover?
The best time to plant clover is in Spring or late Summer/early Fall. It is also a great choice for frost seeding.
What time of year do deer eat clover?
Arrowleaf Clover – Arrowleaf clover is a cool-season annual that is highly productive in fall and spring and a top-choice forage for whitetails.