Alfalfa

The following is the gist of a letter I sent to Kenneth Martin regarding my
experience with alfalfa. It seemed like it might be of general interest so I
am posting it here.


Normally I do not have sufficient time to get very scientific about things
but in the planting season of 1994, I decided that I would find out to my
own satisfaction, if adding alfalfa actually was worth the cost.

My planting were in beds 4' x 50'. I alternated alfalfa and no alfalfa in
alternate beds for the entire planting.

I used 3 rates of application, 4Kg/100 sq. Ft., 8Kg/100 sq ft. & 12Kg/100 sq.ft.
 
The whole sequence was 1) 4kg/100' alfalfa, 2) no alfalfa, 3) 8Kg/100', 4)
no alfalfa, 5) 12Kg/100', 6) no alfalfa. This sequence was repeated until
the planting was finished.

The alfalfa was in the form of pellets. They were broadcast over the surface
and tilled in prior to planting. The irises included all classes of beardeds.

During the spring & summer of 1995 I was totally unable to detect the
slightest difference in growth, bloom, health or anything between the beds
with alfalfa and those without alfalfa. I did not do any analysis other than
my observations but I am confident that had I weighed the rhizomes, for
instance, any differences would not have been significant.

There is one factor which may have influenced the result. This was nearly
perfect soil to begin with. The pH was in the 6.7 - 6.8 range with perfect
drainage. It was only one cropping season (not iris) away from being virgin
soil. The same procedure done in soil which was in poor condition might well
have produced different results. For this situation, however, I do not
consider the cost of alfalfa pellets to have any payback aside from the fact
that a small amount of carbon was added to the soil.


Comments are welcome.

John Montgomery
monashee@bcgrizzly.com
Vernon,  BC
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