Acre Feet Of Water Needed To Grow Alfalfa

5 sowing and seeding rate of alfalfa.

Acre feet of water needed to grow alfalfa. A north dakota study showed that irrigators can expect alfalfa increases of 1 6 to 1 5 ton per acre per year for each inch of water applied until irrigation and precipitation water total 24 inches between late april and the latter part of august. There are lots but here are a few. Alfalfa seeds are so small 1 2 millimeters slightly wider than the tip of a pencil lead there are about 200 000 alfalfa seeds per pound. A north dakota study shows that irrigators can expect alfalfa increases of 1 6 to 1 5 ton per acre per year for each inch of water applied until irrigation and precipitation water total 24.

Cooperative extension specialist in agricultural water management university of california davis dzaccaria ucdavis edu. Anyone who has grown alfalfa even a few years knows it needs a lot of water to produce high tonnage. On the average irrigated alfalfa will use approximately 4 to 5 inches of water for every ton of hay produced. Barley wheat alfalfa and hay.

1 alfalfa uses general info. 3 how to grow alfalfa. 9 alfalfa crop rotation. 8 alfalfa harvest yield per acre.

What crops does montana grow. Alfalfa is california s single la rgest agricultural water user due to the amount grown typically about 1 million acres and its long growing season. Seasonal alfalfa water applications generally. Over the entire alfalfa growing season from dormancy break in february or march to the first frost in mid october however et totals 45 to 50 inches and should produce 8 tons of dry hay or more per acre.

The roots of an alfalfa plant can grow deeper than 15 feet making it an excellent choice for sandy soil conditions. Kearney alfalfa and forage field day september 18 2015 parlier ca how much water does alfalfa need. 4 alfalfa soil requirements variety selection weed management. Alfalfa is a perennial crop which means it will grow for several years after planting.

In fact on the average alfalfa needs about 6 of water in the soil available to the roots for each ton of dry matter produced. Seasonal alfalfa water applications generally range from 4 000 000 to 5 500 000 acre feet. A well fertilized healthy alfalfa crop may use as much as 8 inches of water from the soil in addition to 4 to 6 inches of water supplied by irrigation and rainfall before the first cutting. An acre of corn take 350 000 gallons of water over the 100 day growing cycle.

Irrigators may not appreciate just how much water can be used by a healthy alfalfa crop. 6 alfalfa fertilizer requirements. 2 alfalfa plant information.