Potassium and Boron Blended Fertilizer Compared to Traditional Fertilizers in Alfalfa.

Alfalfa has a large demand for potassium (K). And, boron (B) is one of the most significant micronutrients required for high yielding alfalfa. Commen agricultural practice for alfalfa production involves applying a blended fertilizer of potassium chloride (muriate of potash; MOP) with sodium borate.  The small quantity of boron fertilizer granules in the blended fertilizer has the potential for uneven distribution due to segregation in transport and spreading density differences. A relatively new fertilizer is available that combines potassium chloride with sodium borate based salts (Aspire). Two years of field work have been conducted in Idaho compare to an untreated control, Aspire , and traditional fertilizer. For the first year, the only impact on yield was during the second harvest with the Aspire only treatment yielding greater than all other treatments by 1.39 Mg ha^-1. No consistent impacts on forage quality and nutrition were observed. Second year results are being compiled.