30 



BULLETIN 1244, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Table 14. — Hay yields of alfalfa in cultivation tests at Moccasin, Mont., and 

 Redfield, S. Dak., in stated years. 



[Data in pounds per acre (except as stated) for field-cured material except that the material at Moccasin 



in 1916 to 1920 was air dried.) 



Tests at Moccasin, Mont. 



Treatment. 



1913 



1914 



1915 



1916 



1917 



1918 



1919 



1920 



2,100 

 2,575 

 3,450 



3,400 

 3,300 

 3,5.50 



3,050 

 2,925 

 2,950 



2,450 

 1,940 

 2,165 



2,360 

 2,075 

 2,000 



1,016 



923 



1,136 





 

 



2,072 

 1,797 

 2,009 



3,550 

 3,300 



3,900 

 3,450 



2,825 

 2,600 



2,045 

 1,940 



1,860 

 2,145 



887 

 1,059 





 



2,112 

 2,327 



3,325 



3,650 



2,850 



2,100 



2,085 



1,189 







2,602 



Aver- 

 age. 



Disked once in early spring 



No cultivation (check) 



Disked twice in season 



Disked once and harrowed in early 



spring 



No cultivation (check) 



Disked twice and harrowed in early 



spring 



2,056 

 1,942 

 2,158 



2.147 

 2,103 



2.225 





Tests at Redfield, S. D 



AK. 











Treatment. 



1917 



1918 



1919 



1920 



1921 



1922 



Average, all 

 years. 





Pounds. 



Tons. 





6,025 



6,175 



6,175 

 6,325 



6,775 



2,612 



3,025 



2,875 

 2,875 



2,850 



2,837 



2,562 



2,425 

 2,562 



2,162 



5,100 



5,162 



4,887 

 4,987 



5,012 



2,712 



2,525 



2,387 

 2,425 



2,137 



4,052 



4,025 



3,671 

 4,386 



3,547 



3,890 



3,912 



3,737 

 3,927 



3,747 



1.9+ 



Harrowed (spring tooth) in early 



1.9+ 



Harrowed (spring tooth) in early 

 spring and after each cutting 



1.8+ 



1.9+ 



Disked twice in early spring and 



1.8+ 







These data show quite clearly that the cultural treatments in the cases 

 here recorded have practically no effect, since the differences in the 

 yields of all the plats, whether treated or untreated, are easily within 

 the limits of experimental error. It therefore appears that there is 

 nothing to be gained by cultivating alfalfa grown without irrigation 

 in this region. 



TIME OF CUTTING ALFALFA. 



It is important that the proper treatment be given alfalfa after a 

 good stand" has been obtained. Some of the tests indicate that it is 

 better to let the alfalfa go throughout the first season without cutting. 

 regardless of the weed growth. Under such treatment a larger root 

 system is developed the first year, and the growth of weeds and alfalfa 

 furnishes winter protection. Such treatment appears especially 

 beneficial in a very dry period. With an abundance of moisture it 

 apparently makes little difference whether or not the plants are clipped 

 during the first season. After the first year the time of cutting is of 

 considerable importance. Cutting very early in the stage of de- 

 velopment or too frequently is quite certain to shorten the life of the 

 stand. Better yields are obtained over a period of years and the 

 stand is maintained in better condition where the cutting is delayed 

 until the plants are well in bloom. It is true that cuttings made at 

 an early stage have a higher feeding value, but there is compensation 

 in the better yields where the cuttings are made later. Care should 

 also be taken to avoid cutting too late in the season. In many parts 

 of the region the winter injury is often severe when a cutting has 

 been made so late in the season that the plants do not have time to 

 recover before the growing season ends. 



