Alfalfa is a cool-season, perennial legume. It has many characteristics that make it one of the best deer forages you can choose for your food plots. Its high protein content (16% to 28%) and high digestibility make it highly preferred by deer. It has a taproot that can extend to a depth of over five feet, so it is one of the most drought tolerant forages once it is established. Alfalfa is a cool-season perennial that will persist for over five years if managed correctly, and it can produce more forage per acre than the other legumes. Additionally, it is very efficient at fixing nitrogen, so you won't have to apply nitrogen fertilizer to alfalfa plots.
Alfalfa a demanding forage to grow
While the above characteristics make alfalfa a top forage choice for many deer managers, it is a demanding plant that can be difficult to establish and maintain. As a result, it is not for everybody. For example, alfalfa has low tolerance for moisture and soil acidity; it will do best on well-drained soils with pH between 6.5 and 7.0. Although alfalfa fixes its own nitrogen, it usually requires annual applications of other soil nutrients such as potassium, phosphorous, boron and sulfur. It is prone to damage from over 50 insects or diseases (especially alfalfa weevil and potato leafhopper). It is susceptible to heavy competition from weeds if stands are not kept thick and lush. Finally, it is susceptible to over-grazing early in the season.
Hundreds of alfalfa varieties
There are well over 200 varieties of alfalfa to choose from. Those with the best forage quality tend to be marked " high quality " (HQ) or multifoliolate (ML). Select varieties that have high yield, are resistant to insects and heavy grazing, and are somewhat winter hardy.
Fall dormancy and winter hardiness in alfalfa
Alfalfa varieties are also rated for fall dormancy and winter hardiness. Fall dormancy relates to how soon the variety stops growing in the fall and how early it begins growing again in the spring. Winter hardiness is how well a variety will survive over multiple winters. The time and length of dormancy affect the amount of forage a variety will produce, as well as its winter hardiness. Varieties that go dormant in early fall are more winter hardy than non-dormant varieties. However, varieties with a long dormancy grow for fewer months of the year, so they tend to produce less forage than varieties with a short dormancy.
In northern areas, winter hardiness is the most important factor that determines how long your plot will survive and how much forage it will produce. If planting in the north, select varieties that have a fall dormancy rating between 2.0 and 4.5, and a winter hardiness rating of 3.0.
Plant a mixture of alfalfa varieties
If you are planting large acreages to alfalfa, it is often beneficial to plant a couple of varieties that differ in their dormancy, to maximize forage production, and guard against winter injury. The best way to choose alfalfa varieties that are suitable in your area is to talk directly to your local seed dealers or Cooperative Extension agriculture agents.
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