Yuma County Office
2200 W. 28^th Street, Ste. 102
Yuma, AZ 85364
(520) 726-3904
(520) 726-8472 FAX

Production Update:
PDF version, KB

Starter Fertilizer: Nitrogen is often recommended at planting time as a starter fertilizer for alfalfa. Nitrogen fertilizer may stimulate growth of alfalfa seedlings. However, nitrogen may also stimulate growth of weeds and will delay nodulation until the nitrogen level in the soil is decreased. The amount of nitrogen applied as a starter fertilizer should be in the range of 25 to 50 pounds of N per acre and rates above 50 pounds of N per acre are considered.

Insect Management: During the fall months, many growers establish new stands of alfalfa. Several insect pests can be of concern during stand establishment. When seedling alfalfa plants have emerged, monitor the stand for clipped plants. Cutworms, crickets and earwigs will occasionally be abundant enough to severely thin stands by clipping alfalfa seedlings. Sowbugs and pillbugs are crustaceans that damage seedling fields that have not been well tilled, but are most common as pests in re-seeded fields. The palestripped flea beetle is also occasionally abundant enough to cause sever damage to seedling alfalfa. Treat with an insecticide bait or foliar insecticide when these insects are abundant enough to cause areas of stand loss.

Weed Control: Three dinitroaniline herbicides are used on alfalfa and all are different. Balan is used preplant and needs to be mechanically incorporated to avoid solar degradation and crop injury. Trifluralin is used only preemergence, not preplant, and can be incorporated with the irrigation water. Prowl is registered only for use in alfalfa grown for seed but works well preplant incorporated and preemergence and can be water run but these uses are not registered.

10 Year Summary (October 10, to October 23, 1991-2000):

Full Disclaimers

Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, James A. Christenson, Director Cooperative Extension, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, The University of Arizona.

The University of Arizona is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution. The University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or sexual orientation in its programs and activities.

Any products, services, or organizations that are mentioned, shown, or indirectly implied in this web document do not imply endorsement by The University of Arizona.