NUTRIENT RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ALFALFA
 
     
Soil Test Phosphorus, ppm
  
Soil Test Potassium, ppm
Yield
goal
Soil N plus fertilizer N required
  
VL
L
M
H
VH
  
VL
L
M
H
VH
   
Bray-1
0-5
6-10
11-15
16-20
21+
  
0-40
41-80
81-120
121-160
161+
   
Olsen
0-3
4-7
8-11
12-15
16+
            
ton/a
lb/acre-2'
  
--------lb P2O5/acre--------
  
--------lb K2O/acre--------
2.0
0
  
34
24
15
10
0
  
96
66
35
0
0
3.0
0
  
50
37
23
10
0
  
144
99
53
10
0
4.0
0
  
67
49
30
12
0
  
192
132
71
10
0
5.0
0
  
84
61
38
15
0
  
241
165
89
13
0
6.0
0
  
101
73
45
17
0
  
289
197
106
15
0
7.0
0
  
118
85
53
20
0
  
337
230
124
18
0
8.0
0
  
135
98
60
23
0
  
385
263
142
20
0
                           
Bray-1 P recommendation = (18.57 - 0.93 STP)YG
Olsen P recommendation = (18.57 - 1.16 STP)YG
Potassium recommendation = (55.71 - 0.38 STK)YG

Alfalfa Statements:

  1. When alfalfa yield goals are greater than 5 tons:  Because of high yield goals, soil nutrient withdrawal will likely be large.  Therefore, you should soil test each year.
  2. New alfalfa seedlings:  If using a cover crop when establishing a legume, only apply the fertilizer for the new seeding.  Additional nitrogen fertilizer may cause too much competition from the cover crop for new seedlings.
  3. Established alfalfa when fertilizer is recommended:  The above fertilizer is to be applied annually as long as the stand is maintained.
  4. When alfalfa grass mixture is listed:  If your alfalfa-grass mixture contains at least 1/3 alfalfa, no additional nitrogen should be needed.
  5. Alfalfa and grass when a 0-2 ft. No3-N sample was taken:  The nitrate nitrogen test is of little value for perennial crops.
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