This fact sheet focuses on how irrigation and fertilizer management determine which plants will grow in a hay field. The type of plants growing in the field will directly impact the quality of the harvested hay.
Proper management can increase the number of desirable plant species and improve their quality.
Most meadow haylands in northeastern Nevada are irrigated under a system of continuous irrigation. Meadows are saturated during the growing season and dry during late summer, encouraging the growth of sedges and rushes, both low quality plants. Applying water for a prescribed period every other week is often called intermittent irrigation. The soil type will dictate the amount of water and how long it will remain on the field. This type of irrigation promotes warmer soil temperatures and more soil oxygen.