Keeping Alfalfa Stands with Potassium
Dr. Tom Bruulsema

FOR BIG YIELDS of high-protein forage, nothing beats alfalfa. But alfalfa stands don’t last forever. How long should the alfalfa stand be maintained in a crop rotation? Can adding potassium (K) influence the economic life of the stand?

Benefits of short rotations (three years or less):

• Opportunity to harvest more intensively for higher yield and quality

• More use of legume nitrogen (N) for following corn or cereals

• Soil-tilth benefits are spread over more of the farm

• Expenses for seeding and establishment amortized over more harvests

• More alfalfa forage, valued 50 percent more per ton than corn silage

• Less soil erosion