THE INTENSIVE CULTIVATION OF ALFALFA 3 



The number of irrigations varied from none in the winter months 

 to as many as three in June, averaging fourteen irrigations a year. At 

 times in hot weather more water could have been used to advantage 

 than was received. 



Quantitative data relating to irrigation for the first three years are 

 as follows: 



1909 1910 1911 



1st yr. 2nd yr. 3rd yr. 



Acreage 7.75 A. 7.75 A. 7.36 A. 



Number of irrigations 11 14 16 



Depth of water applied 4.51 ft. 7.07 ft. 7.91 ft. 



Cost of pumped water per acre-foot $1.00 $1.01 $1.01 



Cost of water per acre irrigated 4.68 7.13 7.95 



Tons of hay cut per acre 6.00 9.25 9.33 



Cost of water per ton of hay S .78 $ .77 $ .85 



Pounds of water to make 1 pound of hay 1023 1040 1153 



The ratio of irrrigating water to hay produced is very satisfactory, 

 being not far below the ratio of 750 pounds of water transpired to one 

 of dry matter produced stated to be required in arid regions, under 

 average cultural conditions. With ground water at about ten feet, 

 however, it is possible that this alfalfa drew part of its moisture from 

 this source, and that the real ratio of water to hay is therefore higher. 



Cultivation: Alfalfa, like most other crops, requires constant cul- 

 tural attention for best results. Weeds must be kept out; bare spots 

 must be reseeded; and accumulations of sediments on the soil surface 

 must be broken up from time to time. Bermuda grass, at Yuma, is the 

 worst weed in alfalfa, seeds and fragments of grass floating into the 

 held with the irrigating water, bare spots and edges being constantly 

 invaded in this manner. We have found, however, that after each cut- 

 ting of alfalfa, regular attention with a sharp shovel, and a sharp eye, 

 to small patches of Bermuda starting here and there, will feasibly and 

 easily keep the grass under control. The cost, for field and ditch, with 

 labor from $1.50 to $2.50 a day was as follows for three years: 



COST OF KEEPING AN 8-ACRE ALFALFA FIELD FREE FROM BERMUDA 



Year Alfalfa, per acre Ditch, per 100 ft. ^work"' "S^t* 



1909 $1.86 $ .68 99 $18^94 



1910 3.22 1.53 183 3499 



1911 2.12 1.33 111 24'.30 



Ave., 3 yrs. $2.40 $1.18 



At this cost, the field was kept free from Bermuda, with very little 

 additional expense for other weeds ; while other fields not so cared for, 

 at the end of three years, are so occupied with Bermuda as to be de- 

 preciated at least forty per cent in yield of hay, which would have 

 amounted to a gross loss in our own field of approximately $55.00 per 

 acre for the third year, and more later. In August, water grass grows 

 aggressively in both ditches and alfalfa fields at a time when the alfalfa 

 is least vigorous a condition which tends to depreciate the August 

 and September cuttings in both amount and quality. 



Alfalfa should be disked or renovated twice a year, for several rea- 

 sons: (1) To break up the silt blanket deposited by the muddy irri- 



