ALFALFA RESEEDING

Recommendations for reseeding alfalfa stands vary according to age of the stand. This is because older alfalfa stands have a buildup of pathogens and release compounds that are toxic to new alfalfa seedlings (autotoxicity).

Reseeding in the First Year

• Disk down or kill a seeding failure and reseed either in late summer after a spring seeding attempt or the following spring after a late summer seeding attempt. Autotoxicity is not a problem in the first year.
• Reseed gaps in the stand as soon as possible in the first year.

• The best practice is to rotate out of alfalfa for a full year or more.
• Do not interseed alfalfa to thicken a stand that is 2 years of age or older. Autotoxic compounds and competition from existing plants prevent successful long-term results. Interseed red clover or grass to lengthen life of the forage stand.
• If crop rotation for a year is not a viable solution, kill the alfalfa stand in the fall and seed the next spring. A second alternative is to kill the alfalfa stand in the spring, rotate to a summer annual crop, and reseed to alfalfa in August.
• Research demonstrates that yields will be lower where the interval between alfalfa stands is less than one year.