Integrated Alfalfa Production Systems in Mississippi.

Alfalfa is one of the forage crops with highest nutritive and economic value in the USA. Alfalfa can be used for pasture and as hay or baleage in monoculture or in grass/legume mixes. It is a valuable feed because of its highly digestible energy and protein produced without nitrogen fertilization. The high nutritive value reduces the need for protein and mineral supplementation for livestock. Alfalfa is not a new crop in Mississippi or the southern USA. It has been grown since the 1900’s, but the amount of acreage declined due to disease and the abundant supply of inexpensive nitrogen from 1960’s to later 1990’s. Economic conditions along with increase in nitrogen fertilizer prices has increased the demand for nutritive forage crops. The expansion of alfalfa acreage in the southern USA has also created the need for new improved management practices. Several research studies have been conducted in Mississippi to indicate the potential for acreage expansion in the southern USA. Twelve alfalfa cultivars were evaluated for period of three years indicating that there was a 22 and 55% average DM yield reduction in year 2 and 3 of the study. A two-year study indicated that the integration of alfalfa into bermudagrass pastures has shown a yield decrease like the cultivar study; however, high crude protein levels complemented the low nutritive value of the bermudagrass during the summer months. A two-year data from an on-going study to determine livestock performance across three bermudagrass treatments (control, 100 b N/ac applied in split applications and alfalfa bermudagrass mix) has indicated that alfalfa/bermudagrass mix increase gain per acre by 100 and 14% when compared to control or N application. These efforts have resulted in the sustainability of alfalfa production, nutritive value, and improved management practices in the South.