American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1917-04-26
ALFALFA'S PLACE ON THE
NON-IRRIGATED FARM
PhiIo X. Blinn, Alfalfa Specialist, Col
orado State Experiment Station,
Tells OF Soil and Cultural Require
ments that Insure Success.

been regarded much of a success, ex-
cent in rather limited areas along the
creek beds where the land has moist
subsoil, yet in recent years there have
been numerous experiments and tests
which have demonstrated the fact that
alfalfa has a place in dry-land farm
ing. if certain conditions and require
ments in its cultural care are duly
considered.
Failures with alfalfa on the non
irrigated lands can generally be at
tributed to one or more Of the follow
ing causes: The selection Of insult
able soil conditions; attempting to
start alfalfa on land without previous
soil preparation; sowing seed on a
poorly prepared seed bed; sowing en-
tirely too much seed; d~isregarding any
cultural care to conserve moisture or
control weeds.
Alfalfa is a drouth-enduring plant
when its roots once become well es-
tablished in some deep subsoil mois-
ture, but 1t is a mistaken idea that
alfalfa rots will penetrate through dry
soil to moisture. 1t is essential that
there should be moisture in the soil to
considerable depth to succeed in start
ing alfalfa, and except in rare IN
stances it is useless to attempt to seed
alfalfa on dry land that has not been
previously deeply plowed for several
wears so that moisture may have pene-
800 Il - 1ocrf Furn- or three feet.
and it is also unwise to SOW alfalfa IN
the thick broadcast methods that are
usually practiced on land under heavy
rainfall or irrigation.
In dry land conditions a cultural sys-
tenn that will permit cultivation TO
conserve moisture and control weeds
Is absolutely necessary. There are at
least three conditions in the dryland
districts under which the farmers
could be advised to SOW alfalfa seed;
First. along the creek beds or water
courses, where the moisture in the sub
soil from the underflow may often pro-
duce abundant crops Of alfalfa hay or
where a pumping plant can be utilized
to advantage for irrigation.
Second, in locations where a field
might be irrigated from flood water
from higher grounds, by collecting the
srunoff'' and conducting it to fields
that we're adequately ditched and tur-
flowed to receive the water. Doubtless
there are many such locations through
out the dry land sections where thls
could be accomplished.
Third, on deep loamy soils that have
a high coefficient Of moisture reten-
ton that is not too sandy. Such types
OF soil, If properly handled with the
right cultural methods employed, '
produced fairly successful crops OF al
falfa hay. Probably when the n
tons and requirements for e pro
duction are better known, some OF
these types of soil in certain districts
will also be adapted to alfalfa seeo
n~roduction. as some of the tests anc
governments indicate that alfalfa seec
can best be produced under rather dry
conditions, and there is a great neeo
OF an alfalfa seed growing Industry
for Colorado and the whole United
States.
Variety for Dry Land.
Certain varieties of alfalfa have no
proven to be more resistant to droutl
than others, but experimental tesV'
have shown that the hardy d
4 ground stooling types OF alfalfa arr
better adapted to dry land conditions
as they have many more lateral roots
near the surface, which affords a pet
ter root pasture to appropriate th'
moisture from storms, which Is tn'
ONLY source of water to the plants
Hence. we would recommend th'
Grimm's or Baltic strains OF alIalla d.
having given the best results so far Il
the tests and experiments. II ma
also been shown that even with ines
strains there is a great opportunity =
improve them by seed selection. Ih'
commercial name of a strain OF see'
does not signify much, for there MAJ
been so much mispaming of ditferen
seeds. A more important point Is
whether the seed has been systematic
ally selected or bred for the purpoS'
desired.
Selecting the Soil.
In preparing to seed alfalfa On u!
land the selection of the soil that VII
best retain moisture is OF first I'm
portance. Heavy soils or soils under
laid with coarse sand or gravel VII
dry too rapidly and should be avoided
but a deep sandy loan that Will no
crust hard, but almost form its Owl
soil mulch as it dries at the surface
is the soil best adapted to grow alfalfa
under dry land conditions.
Preparation Of the Soil.
Land intended to be seeded to al
falfa should be deeply plowed for
year or two previous, in order to es
tablish moisture in the subsoil; and
possible it should be summer fallowe'
the season before sowing the alfalfa
in order to store moisture and eradi