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ARS Home » Midwest Area » St. Paul, Minnesota » Plant Science Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #312902
Title: Managing the rotation from alfalfa to corn

Author
item YOST, MATT - University Of Minnesota
item COULTER, JEFFREY - University Of Minnesota
item Russelle, Michael

Submitted to: Extension Publications
Publication Type: Experiment Station
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/2/2014
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Alfalfa provides many benefits to cropping systems. These benefits occur both during alfalfa production and during the subsequent crops that follow. Some of the common benefits during alfalfa production are increased soil organic matter, decreased soil erosion, and decreased soil nitrate leaching loss. Alfalfa also usually requires no nitrogen (N) fertilizer and few herbicide applications. Crops that follow alfalfa usually benefit from: i) reduced or eliminated N requirement from fertilizer or manure; ii) increased yield potential compared to following other crops; and iii) reduced weed, insect, and disease pressure. This bulletin describes management practices for alfalfa termination and the two subsequent corn crops that will help utilize the benefits of alfalfa.