Irrigating First Cutting Alfalfa

Alfalfa is resilient to harsh weather and a drought-tolerant perennial crop with rooting depths down eight feet or more. Depending on deep soil profile moisture during drought, some varieties can move into a dormancy and survive up to 45 days without rainfall. However, forage yields drop dramatically; since alfalfa requires about 4 to 6 inches of root available water to produce 1 ton of forage per acre. Todd Whitney, Nebraska Irrigation and Cropping Systems Forage Educator.