Wetland alfalfa (possible mix?)

[Telemark]

I've decided to give this a try in a field that tends to be a bit soggy much of the year. Can I just throw and mow, or do I need a clean seed bed? The field has a lot of thatch from the grasses that grow there every year. I assume I will have to spray no matter what. Anything else I should know?

Also, is there anything else I should plant with it? If so, what kind of rates are we talking? (I was thinking possibly Alsike clover and birds foot trefoil.)

Goals are to attract and feed deer as much as possible. Rifle season is in November, so it would be nice to have something edible late in the season, but it's not crucial at this point. Property is located on the border of zones 4 and 5.

 

[PoorSand]

I'd take a soil test and see how much lime needs to be applied. Alfalfa is pretty picky about pH. After the soil test, a guy can decide whether the amount of work and money required to condition the soil for alfalfa is worth it. The first year, given that the ground is soggy and untamed, I'd spray it with glyphosate three times over the first summer and maybe plant a cereal grain in early September. The next year, I would grow something else to continue to further condition the soil. After I'd learned the soil, I'd consider whether it is just too soggy for alfalfa. I might take a chance with a creeping habit variety, but it would need to have a strong disease resistance rating. During the year of finally planting the alfalfa, I'd try to get as clean of a soil surface as possible and as precise a planting depth as possible.

Alsike sounds like a cheaper and safer bet, but I might not be picturing the field correctly.

 

[buckdeer1]

Alfalfa doesn't like too wet of ground and alot of times even the smallest spot that holds an inch of water will drown out.You also can't overseed in an established alfalfa field.I will plant another this winter late but only because I added enough dirt to get flat so it doesn't hold water.Alfalfa is far better early season in my are of Kansas as once it goes dormant it still may be used but not as much as other crops.Soybeans might be better late in year.

 

[Nightvision]

Don’t waste your money. It will die. A ladino clover may be better in that soil.

 

[FarmerDan]

https://hayandforage.com/article-1167-the-wet-soil-challenge.html

If you don’t mind a little reading the article at the end of the link above offers a great discussion of wet soils and the types and varieties of forages, including different clover species, offering the best hopes for our habitat objectives.

 

[Telemark]

I'd take a soil test and see how much lime needs to be applied. Alfalfa is pretty picky about pH. After the soil test, a guy can decide whether the amount of work and money required to condition the soil for alfalfa is worth it. The first year, given that the ground is soggy and untamed, I'd spray it with glyphosate three times over the first summer and maybe plant a cereal grain in early September. The next year, I would grow something else to continue to further condition the soil. After I'd learned the soil, I'd consider whether it is just too soggy for alfalfa. I might take a chance with a creeping habit variety, but it would need to have a strong disease resistance rating. During the year of finally planting the alfalfa, I'd try to get as clean of a soil surface as possible and as precise a planting depth as possible.

Alsike sounds like a cheaper and safer bet, but I might not be picturing the field correctly.

I have done a soil test. The soil has a pH of 6.8 and is extremely high in organic material. The bedrock is dolomitic limestone, so calcium and magnesium are very high. Other nutrients were quite good, though any crop that is especially demanding in P and K might need a little fertilizer.

The field is usually only soggy in Spring and Fall, and tends to be fine in summer but with a relatively high water table. Anything I plant there would need to like or tolerate moisture.

The only type of alfalfa I would consider is "Wetland Alfalfa" from Merit Seed. If that's a no-go for whatever reason, then I can skip it.

 

[Telemark]

Alfalfa doesn't like too wet of ground and alot of times even the smallest spot that holds an inch of water will drown out.You also can't overseed in an established alfalfa field.I will plant another this winter late but only because I added enough dirt to get flat so it doesn't hold water.Alfalfa is far better early season in my are of Kansas as once it goes dormant it still may be used but not as much as other crops.Soybeans might be better late in year.

Would soybean tolerate that much moisture?

 

[Telemark]

Don’t waste your money. It will die. A ladino clover may be better in that soil.

Thanks. I will definitely add some ladino clover.

 

[Telemark]

https://hayandforage.com/article-1167-the-wet-soil-challenge.html

If you don’t mind a little reading the article at the end of the link above offers a great discussion of wet soils and the types and varieties of forages, including different clover species, offering the best hopes for our habitat objectives.

Thanks for the link. I will read it as soon as I get a chance.

 

[Nightvision]

I have done a soil test. The soil has a pH of 6.8 and is extremely high in organic material. The bedrock is dolomitic limestone, so calcium and magnesium are very high. Other nutrients were quite good, though any crop that is especially demanding in P and K might need a little fertilizer.

The field is usually only soggy in Spring and Fall, and tends to be fine in summer but with a relatively high water table. Anything I plant there would need to like or tolerate moisture.

The only type of alfalfa I would consider is "Wetland Alfalfa" from Merit Seed. If that's a no-go for whatever reason, then I can skip it.

Give Merits a call. I bet they will steer you in the right direction.

 

[Bassattackr]

Check out Alsike clover, it is probably the most tolerant of wet areas (including brief periods of standing water) than all other clovers.

 

[Telemark]

Give Merits a call. I bet they will steer you in the right direction.

Very expensive to call from Europe. I'll call them next time I'm in the States.

 

[Telemark]

Check out Alsike clover, it is probably the most tolerant of wet areas (including brief periods of standing water) than all other clovers.

It's definitely going in my blend

 

[PatinPA]

I've decided to give this a try in a field that tends to be a bit soggy much of the year. Can I just throw and mow, or do I need a clean seed bed? The field has a lot of thatch from the grasses that grow there every year. I assume I will have to spray no matter what. Anything else I should know?

Also, is there anything else I should plant with it? If so, what kind of rates are we talking? (I was thinking possibly Alsike clover and birds foot trefoil.)

Goals are to attract and feed deer as much as possible. Rifle season is in November, so it would be nice to have something edible late in the season, but it's not crucial at this point. Property is located on the border of zones 4 and 5.

I have a plot next to a spring and it gets fairly wet. I put in a mix of clover, chicory, and oats. Just an observation but the the chicory and oats did really well. The clover not so much.

 

[Nightvision]

Very expensive to call from Europe. I'll call them next time I'm in the States.

Why yes it would!