How Much Space to Leave Between Each Alfalfa Plant for Optimal Growth

Alfalfa, also known as lucerne, is a nutrient-dense forage crop that has been grown for centuries This versatile plant can be used for grazing livestock, hay production, green manure, and more When planting an alfalfa field or stand, one of the most important factors that will impact the health and productivity of your alfalfa is the spacing between each plant. Proper spacing is essential to prevent overcrowding and allow each alfalfa plant adequate space, sun exposure and airflow to thrive.

In this article, we’ll explore the optimal space to leave between alfalfa plants. We’ll look at the reasons why proper spacing is important and provide tips and guidelines to help you achieve the right balance when sowing your alfalfa seeds. Whether you’re planting a small garden plot or acreage for farm use, this information will ensure your alfalfa stand gets off to a healthy start.

Why Proper Alfalfa Spacing Matters

Alfalfa is a perennial crop, meaning each plant can continue producing leaves and stems over several years if properly maintained. When planting, it’s important to remember that the seedling you sow will mature into a much larger plant. Alfalfa can grow to heights of 1-4 feet tall at maturity. The root system is also extensive, with a single alfalfa plant’s roots able to plunge 20 feet or more into the soil.

If alfalfa plants are crowded too close together, they end up competing for available resources like sunlight, space, and soil nutrients and moisture. Overcrowded conditions cause plants to become spindly and stunted as they stretch and lean toward any available light gaps Lack of airflow can also lead to the increased development of leaf diseases All of this adds up to reduce the overall health, productivity, and lifespan of your alfalfa stand.

On the other hand, too much space between plants can also cause problems. If there are large gaps between established plants, weeds will quickly move in and occupy the vacant areas. You’ll miss out on plentiful yields as a result.

The ideal alfalfa spacing strikes the right balance between these two extremes. Each plant has enough elbow room to grow sturdy and robust, while still creating a thick stand that wards off weeds.

Recommended Alfalfa Spacing Distance

So how much space should you allow between your alfalfa plants? The general recommendation from agricultural experts is to thin alfalfa seedlings to approximately 6 inches of space between each plant.

This 6-inch spacing guideline works well for many situations. However, you may need to adjust up or down slightly depending on factors like your soil fertility, rainfall/irrigation levels, and whether you’re sowing a pure alfalfa stand or incorporating a nurse crop like oats or wheat. We’ll look at adjusting your spacing for different situations next.

Adjusting Alfalfa Spacing for Specific Conditions

Here are some tips on modifying the spacing in your alfalfa plantings to suit different scenarios:

• Lower fertility soils: Space plants closer together, around 4-5 inches. The thinner stand helps compensate for reduced vigor.

• Higher fertility soils: Increase space to around 8 inches between plants. The abundant nutrients support wider plant spacing.

• Dry conditions: Wider 8-inch spacing is better to reduce competition for moisture.

• High rainfall/irrigation: Use a tighter 4-5 inch spacing. Moisture availability supports denser stands.

• Pure alfalfa planting: The 6-inch spacing works well for pure alfalfa stands.

• Alfalfa nurse crop: Increase alfalfa spacing when including a companion crop. For example, space alfalfa seeds 8 inches apart when planting with oats or wheat. This prevents the nurse crop from crowding out the new alfalfa seedlings.

These are general recommendations, but always consider your own climate and soil conditions when deciding on spacing. Start on the wider end of the spacing scale if unsure. Thinning seedlings is much easier than trying to transplant patches that are too congested!

Planting Methods to Achieve Proper Alfalfa Spacing

Now that we’ve covered the optimal space between alfalfa plants, let’s look at some planting techniques to help achieve proper spacing:

Broadcast Seeding

This method entails scattering alfalfa seed across the prepared soil by hand or with a hand-cranked or mechanical seed spreader. Broadcasting requires using a higher seeding rate to account for uneven coverage. Once seeds have germinated, thinning is necessary to achieve uniform spacing.

Drill Seeding

Using a grain drill pulled behind a tractor allows precise seed placement in rows at calibrated rates. Most drills have adjustable row widths and seed output controls to help match your desired alfalfa spacing. Drill seeding is more efficient and uses less seed compared to broadcast methods.

Overseeding

This involves sowing extra seed directly over an established alfalfa stand that needs rejuvenating. A light disking or harrowing precedes overseeding to loosen the surface soil. The new seeds fill in around existing plants. So spacing is less crucial with this method.

Hydroseeding

For larger areas, hydroseeding spray-applies a slurry of water, seed, fertilizer and mulch. A tractor pulls the hydroseeding equipment. The process achieves quick coverage similar to broadcast seeding and requires follow-up thinning.

With any planting method, check your seed bag for the recommended seeding rate and adjust as needed to achieve your target spacing. Certain varieties and seed types also have different size seeds, so rate adjustments may be needed.

Thinning Tips for Proper Alfalfa Spacing

If you used broadcast seeding or hydroseeding, thinning is required to reach the optimal alfalfa plant spacing. Here are some tips for effective thinning:

• Time thinning to when plants are 3-6 inches tall for easiest access between rows.

• Do thinning on a cloudy or cool day to reduce transplant shock.

• Always leave the healthiest looking seedlings. Remove spindly, off-color, crowded, or weak plants first.

• Pull up undesired plants by hand or use scissors for a clean cut just below soil level.

• Replant uprooted seedlings in any sparse areas for a thick, uniform stand.

• Water immediately after thinning to help remaining seedlings recover.

• Make two or more passes, waiting 1-2 weeks between thinning rounds for best results.

Enjoy an Abundant Alfalfa Crop

Achieving proper alfalfa plant spacing sets the foundation for growing a thriving, productive stand that will keep your livestock, hay fields, or cover crop fertilized for years to come. Like any other crop, alfalfa requires attention to detail when planting for optimal success. Now that you’re armed with tips on the ideal space between plants, plus techniques for achieving even stand density, your alfalfa is sure to get off on the right footing. Keep an eye on emerging seedlings and don’t hesitate to do some thinning for a healthy, spacious stand. With the right spacing, your alfalfa will reward you with an abundant source of forage for livestock grazing and haying needs.