Acre Feet Of Water Needed To Grow Alfalfa

Anyone who has grown alfalfa even a few years knows it needs a lot of water to produce high tonnage.

Acre feet of water needed to grow alfalfa.

On the average irrigated alfalfa will use approximately 4 to 5 inches of water for every ton of hay produced. 2 alfalfa plant information. 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. Alfalfa is a.

Kearney alfalfa and forage field day september 18 2015 parlier ca how much water does alfalfa need. 6 alfalfa fertilizer requirements. Potential irrigated alfalfa hay yield at elevations near 4000 feet is about 7 5 tons acre. 8 alfalfa harvest yield per acre.

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. 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. 5 sowing and seeding rate of alfalfa. Hay harvested at 12 moisture removes 240 lbs water ton hay or 1 800.

Seasonal alfalfa water applications generally. How long does alfalfa grow. 1 alfalfa uses general info. Not much water is exported with alfalfa hay.

9 alfalfa crop rotation. How much water is required to grow one acre of alfalfa. 7 alfalfa water requirements. From about mid april to early august daily water use of a good stand of alfalfa in the farmington area averages between 0 25 and 0 30 inch figure 1 and totals more than 30 inches during this time period.

Cooperative extension specialist in agricultural water management university of california davis dzaccaria ucdavis edu. 4 alfalfa soil requirements variety selection weed management. 2012 12 03 23 41 50 2012 12 03 23 41 50. 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.