Irrigating Forages

Forages vary greatly in water-use efficiency defined as pounds of forage produced per inch of water applied. In general, warm-season (C-4) forage crops are more water-use efficient than cool-season (C-3) crops. Although legumes, like alfalfa, are very drought tolerant, they tend to be less water efficient than grasses. Todd Whitney, Nebraska Irrigation and Cropping Systems Forage Educator.