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 Alfalfa
(Medicago sativa L.)- crop cycle
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Alfalfa is a perennial plant. The development cycle
is based on the carbohydrates which are stored in the roots. After
each cutting, the plant uses these reserves for regrowth. This cycle
is repeated until yield decrease the crop must then be turned over
into the soil or resown.
The total life length of a lucerne crop is related to different
parameters: cultivar (stand persistence), climate, soil, management
techniques (mostly number of cuttings). In arid areas, our
choices of varieties and management practices have shown an outstanding
superiority over traditional approaches: total life length
can be increased up to one year and sometimes more! See the online
trials for details.
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Seed
Seed in soil after planting. Note the kidney shape.
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Emergence
1st leaf (3 leaflets per leaf). optimum germination temperature
is 20°C (70°F)
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Beginning of blooming
Root system can reach down to
6 or 7 m!
Key stage for harvest management
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Full blooming
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Useful links
 Publications
of the Alfalfa Council - USA
Nutrient requirements
- direct atmospheric nitrogen uptake!
Plants are usually unable to use atmospheric nitrogen (N2) as a nutrient.
On some legumes, such as alfalfa, nodules appear on the root system. Formed
by a bacterium (rhizobium), they live in symbiosis with the plant and
enable direct nitrogen feed. Atmospheric nitrogen (N2) is captured by
the nodules  and
locally converted into ammonium (NH4+), a chemical
form which can be absorbed by the roots.
Multifoliate types
Some varieties where selected on the base of leaf production. Multifoliate
cultivars have more than 3 leaflets on each leaf. If total weight is thus
increased, which should mean higher yields, these cultivars tend to lose
their leaves when harvested.
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