Scald Symptoms of Alfalfa Scald Symptoms Scald in alfalfa is caused when standing water covers the soil and direct bright sunlight heats the soil and water. Plants in the center plot regrew more slowly than others. Foliage in the plots with rapid regrowth shaded the soil and were unharmed by stand water and bright sun. Plants growing without shading the soil suffered from scald.
Most scalded plants die during a few days or weeks.