[zaaruka90]

Hi HayTalk community it a great honor to be part of the community, my name is Peter Pinda and I'm from Tanzania Dodoma Africa, I have taken a great interest in the hay industry and would like learn more and since I leave in a semi arid country alfalfa has been my choice of hay to try t

 

[HayMike]

Is irrigation available?

 

[Markpnw]

I’m sure you’ll be able to get one nice cutting dry land for sure maybe even two. Assuming the ground should hold all that moisture from 23in of rainfall. My neck of the woods is 17in of rain a year and we usually get 2 cuttings but we do get snow in the winter which really helps.

 

[zaaruka90]

Is irrigation available?

It is an option but say I had 250 acre how much water would I need

 

[zaaruka90]

I’m sure you’ll be able to get one nice cutting dry land for sure maybe even two. Assuming the ground should hold all that moisture from 23in of rainfall. My neck of the woods is 17in of rain a year and we usually get 2 cuttings but we do get snow in the winter which really helps.

What is the production rate per acre and how does snow help there

 

[Markpnw]

What is the production rate per acre and how does snow help there

Really depends on how much fertilizer is put on and how good the soil and strand Is. 2-3ton is avg for first cutting. Second cutting is more like 1 ton an acre. Snow replenishes the ground with moisture.

 

[zaaruka90]

Does alfalfa grow under any environment condition or does it prefer dry climate like semi arid

 

[zaaruka90]

Really depends on how much fertilizer is put on and how good the soil and strand Is. 2-3ton is avg for first cutting. Second cutting is more like 1 ton an acre. Snow replenishes the ground with moisture.

And about soil what type of soil typ is the best

 

[danwi]

The question I would ask is would sn alfalfa stand survive year to year during your dry season?

 

[zaaruka90]

The question I would ask is would sn alfalfa stand survive year to year during your dry season?

Well would it?

 

[Hay diddle diddle]

Yes. it would. If you can get ot established it will happily sit there through a long hot summer. As for irrigation and water requirements, it really depends whether your talking flood or spray. Flood uses around 1 megaliter per acre per watering. 2 watering 2 weeks apart per cut is required. As for spray, that also depends. I might use 8 laps of a pivot over a cut and that uses roughly 32 megs for 65ac. All depends on in crop rainfall as well. Trouble you will have is without irrigation during your dry season you will be trying to make hay during your wet season. Not ideal for curing as you will need 4 to 5 days after cutting. And that's without humidity. Watering in your dry season will give you the best opportunity to make good hay without weather damage.

 

[zaaruka90]

Yes. it would. If you can get ot established it will happily sit there through a long hot summer. As for irrigation and water requirements, it really depends whether your talking flood or spray. Flood uses around 1 megaliter per acre per watering. 2 watering 2 weeks apart per cut is required. As for spray, that also depends. I might use 8 laps of a pivot over a cut and that uses roughly 32 megs for 65ac. All depends on in crop rainfall as well. Trouble you will have is without irrigation during your dry season you will be trying to make hay during your wet season. Not ideal for curing as you will need 4 to 5 days after cutting. And that's without humidity. Watering in your dry season will give you the best opportunity to make good hay without weather damage.

That's alot of water and what about tropical climatic condition does alfalfa thrive cause I been reading too much water is not good either

 

[Hay diddle diddle]

Won't grow without it. But yes, too much and hot temperatures will lead to scalding or cooking the plants, particularly if the water ponds on the paddock for too long. I try to avoid watering in temperatures above 36°c with flood irrigation. Spray, can be more forgiving as you are not pending so much water during irrigation. You want to avoid watering if rain is due as well. Good drainage is imperative if you intend to irrigate.

 

[Hay diddle diddle]

Alfalfa or LUCERNE as the rest of the world know it, grows from tropical Queensland to Tasmania here in Australia (Think from top to bottom of the country). Tassie might only get a couple of cuts whereas Queensland can see up to 11 cuts per year. That said, I find it enjoys a spell mid season to get good yields.

 

[zaaruka90]

Alfalfa or LUCERNE as the rest of the world know it, grows from tropical Queensland to Tasmania here in Australia (Think from top to bottom of the country). Tassie might only get a couple of cuts whereas Queensland can see up to 11 cuts per year. That said, I find it enjoys a spell mid season to get good yields.

Really greatfull for the inside knowledge you gave me

 

[zaaruka90]

Sorry again but what soil typ is best suitable and pH level is the best

 

[Markpnw]

Sorry again but what soil typ is best suitable and pH level is the best

Sandy loan is some of the best for alfalfa but honestly it depends on the ph closer to 7 the better. Nutrition is another thing you have to have all the right stuff for alfalfa. Phosphate is a big one for alfalfa.