how much fertilizer to use on alfalfa
Figure 3. A multi-year Purdue study found that the highest alfalfa yields were recorded when fertilizer rates were 50 pounds of P 2 O 5 per acre per year, and 200 pounds or more of K 2 O per acre per year.igure 3. A multi-year Purdue study found that the highest alfalfa yields were recorded when fertilizer rates were 50 pounds of P 2 O 5 per acre per year, and 200 pounds or more of K 2 O per acre per year.
To achieve seed stands of these densities, growers have been sowing 0.5 to 1.0 lb/acre (0.5 to 1.0 kg/ha). Considering alfalfa contains about 220,000 seeds per pound (485,000 seeds per kilogram) even these low seeding rates can be too high. However, even under the best managed conditions there is considerable seedling mortality before the stand produces its first crop.