Acre Feet Of Water Needed To Grow Alfalfa

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.

Acre feet of water needed to grow alfalfa. Kearney alfalfa and forage field day september 18 2015 parlier ca how much water does alfalfa need. 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. Not much water is exported with alfalfa hay. Anyone who has grown alfalfa even a few years knows it needs a lot of water to produce high tonnage.

Cooperative extension specialist in agricultural water management university of california davis dzaccaria ucdavis edu. How much water is required to grow one acre of alfalfa. 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. 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.

2 alfalfa plant information. Potential irrigated alfalfa hay yield at elevations near 4000 feet is about 7 5 tons acre. Requirements for alfalfa are 20 to 46 inches of water per season depending on climate elevation growing season number of cuttings latitude and fall dormancy rating of the alfalfa variety. 4 alfalfa soil requirements variety selection weed management.

3 how to grow alfalfa. Alfalfa is a. How long does alfalfa grow. 9 alfalfa crop rotation.

Seasonal alfalfa water applications generally range from 4 000 000 to 5 500 000 acre feet. Hay harvested at 12 moisture removes 240 lbs water ton hay or 1 800. On the average irrigated alfalfa will use approximately 4 to 5 inches of water for every ton of hay produced. 7 alfalfa water requirements.

5 sowing and seeding rate of alfalfa. Seasonal alfalfa water applications generally. 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. 6 alfalfa fertilizer requirements.

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