History of alfalfa
Alfalfa is one of the oldest cultivated crops in human history. It originated in southwestern Asia around 9000 years ago with the place of origin thought to be Iran. From Iran it spread through the Middle East during the Persian Empire attaining the name alfalfa which means, “the best forage.” Persian alfalfa was spread to Greece in 490 BC and then spread later by the Roman Empire in 200 BC. Once the Roman Empire fell it struggled to make its way to western parts of Europe. Arabs in this time spread it throughout north Africa where it made its appearance in Spain around 711 AD. Alfalfa was introduced to the Americas by the Spanish conquistadors in the 1500’s. Southern Mexico and South America were ideal conditions for it to grow and flourish. It quickly spread throughout South America and was brought to southwestern parts of the United States by missionaries in the 1700’s.
Why you might need alfalfa in your soil
Optimal plant growth takes a lot of work. Dialing in the perfect nutrient composition for your plants can be difficult. Once you do achieve it your plants will slowly deplete those minerals from the soil throughout the growing season. By the time you harvest your crop the soil is going to need its nutrients replenished for next season’s crop. There might be several amendments that need to be added, the one we want to focus on is alfalfa. Alfalfa is an incredible amendment to add to your soil or compost bin. It will add macro nutrients, trace minerals, natural fatty acids, and amino acids. We prefer alfalfa meal which is the dried plant material that has been ground up. The meal version makes it easy to mix in or be broadcast.
NPK Value and Vitamins
Alfalfa has a NPK value of 3-1-2. The value can vary up or down depending on where you get yours from. This value is fantastic for fixing several issues in your soil with more focus on solving nitrogen issues. It also contains tons of vitamins, you can find vitamin A, B, and E. As well as Biotin, Carotene, Choline, Folic Acid, Niacin, Pantothenic Acid, Riboflavin, and Thiamine. Alfalfa contains minerals like Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Selenium, Sulfur, as well as 16 amino acids. These vitamins and nutrients have a major effect in helping with the growth and strength of your plants. They also help beneficial microorganism which will break down and feed the plants.
Natural Growth Hormone
One of the big attractants to alfalfa for soil is it contains Triacontanol a natural growth hormone. Triacontanol will help your plants with growth, yield, photosynthesis, protein synthesis, uptake of water and nutrients, nitrogen fixation, enzyme activities and contents of free amino acids, reducing sugars, soluble proteins, and active forms of essential oils in various crops. This natural growth hormone is packed with benefits for your plants, and alfalfa is a fantastic way to get it in your soil.
Drawbacks
There are some drawbacks that can happen when using alfalfa in your soil. Besides using the meal form of alfalfa, you can also use pellets and cubes. These forms get the nutrients into the soil and plants, but they can take longer depending on which one you choose. The major disadvantage with pellets and cubes is they can attract rodents. If you have issues with rodents like rabbits, mice, and rats. The best solution is using alfalfa meal and getting it mixed throughout your soil. Another drawback to alfalfa is if it is clumped in certain spots it can start producing heat. This makes it fantastic if you are wanting to add to a compost bin but not for your soil. Be sure to thoroughly mix it with your soil and you should avoid this issue.
Compost
Since Alfalfa is higher in nitrogen it’s a great addition to the compost bin. The nutrients and growth hormones in it make incredible compost for your plants. Adding alfalfa to your compost will help kickstart the heating process and help speed up your compost pile. This is fantastic since compost can already take a while to start breaking down and get a hot enough temperature. You can also add it to compost that is older to reactivate it.
GMO vs NON-GMO
We must admit we are a little biased on the gmo vs non-gmo issue at Serious Soil, especially when it comes to alfalfa. Making a genetically modified alfalfa doesn’t make a ton of since. It’s already a hardy crop that will stuff out weeds on its own. In fact, 93% of pre-gmo alfalfa was grown without the use of herbicides. But corporations and chemical companies will find a way to make profit. A gmo “roundup ready” alfalfa can cause some issues in your soil. Overtime pesticides can build up in your soil which can lead to plants having a harder time germinating. Glyphosate an active chemical in Roundup has been shown to decrease worm populations. Which if you are using a living soil can have major effects on your plant and soil health. We recommend using organic non gmo products whenever possible.
Application Rate
Applying alfalfa is incredibly easy. The application rate we use are general measurements and can change depending on your soil needs.
Potting Soil 1/4 – 1/2 Cup per cubic foot
Light Mix 12 Ibs per 1000 Square Feet
Medium Mix 25 Ibs per 1000 Square Feet
Heavy Mix 50 Ibs per 1000 Square Feet
Conclusion
Alfalfa is an amazing amendment that has been with us for a long time. It has so many benefits to your plant and soil health it should be on every growers list of amendments to add. If you have questions about it, reach out to us and we’d be happy to answer them for you. If you are looking for a place to buy alfalfa meal, we do sell it on our site. Ours is 100% organic non-gmo it’s finely chopped and easy to mix with. It comes in a resealable bag making it easy to store all year long. Thanks for Reading!
