Alfalfa in Kansas. 267 



ALFALFA SEED PRODUCTION. 



By C. 0. CUNNINGHAM, 

 Assistant Professor of Agronomy, Kansas State Agricultural College. 



Alfalfa is one of the most profitable forage crops when grown under 

 conditions to which it is adapted. The acreage is rapidly increasing, not 

 only in the western states, but in the eastern part of the United States, 

 where the farmers are rapidly learning how to grow alfalfa under con- 

 ditions not naturally adapted to the crop. Because of the gradual in- 

 crease in acreage, and due to the fact that alfalfa has to be re-seeded 

 every twelve years, on the average, the production of alfalfa seed must 

 necessarily be an important industry. 



The United States does not produce sufficient alfalfa seed to supply 

 the domestic demand, and several million pounds are imported annually. 

 The indications are that the demand for alfalfa seed will exceed the 

 domestic supply for years to come, and that this industry will continue 

 to be a highly profitable one under conditions adapted to the production 

 of seed. Portions of Kansas are well adapted for growing alfalfa seed. 



FACTORS CONTROLLING THE PRODUCTION OF ALFALFA SEED. 



Alfalfa seed production is governed to a greater extent by seasonal 

 conditions than any other crop. In fact, seed can be successfully pro- 

 duced only when a certain combination of climatic and soil conditions 

 prevail. These factors can not be controlled by the grower except under 

 irrigation, where the moisture content of the soil can usually be regu- 

 lated to suit the requirements of the crop. 



In Kansas the seasons may or may not be favorable for a seed crop 

 of alfalfa, and the amount of seed produced annually varies greatly. 

 Under favorable conditions a considerable acreage of alfalfa is per- 

 mitted to "go to seed," while in unfavorable years seed production may 

 be confined entirely to limited areas in western Kansas, where conditions 

 are normally suitable for growing seed. Even in this part of the state 

 conditions are not always such that seed can be produced. It is very 

 important that the growers thoroughly understand the factors influencing 

 the production of alfalfa seed in order that they may be able to take 

 advantage of opportunities to grow a crop and to avoid losses usually 

 sustained in endeavoring to produce seed under conditions that are not 

 suitable. 



STAND. 



The thickness of the stand of alfalfa often influences the yield of seed. 

 Comparatively thin stands may produce more seed than thick ones. 

 When the stand is thin the individual plants have an opportunity to 

 produce numerous seed branches and a corresponding heavy "set" of 

 seed pods results. In the case of thick stands most of the seed pods form 

 on the top branches, as the other portions of the plants do not make 

 seed, due to lack of sunlight, and perhaps to failure of the flowers to 

 become fertilized. Where alfalfa is grown primarily for the production 

 of seed a thin stand should be preferred to a thick one. 



