Frosted Alfalfa
by Dan Undersander
Alfalfa may start growing in the spring while some freezing nights are still occurring. This has caused many management questions among farmers.
Alfalfa is tolerant of cold temperatures. To make the best management decision we must understand the growth and biology of alfalfa. A few alfalfa growth principles in mind:
Temperatures in the 25 to 30ºF range may cause some leaf deformation for those leave in early development stages but earlier and later
The fundamental principle behind frost seeding is that alternating freezing and thawing, along with spring rains, will help to incorporate the broadcast seed into the soil surface. Frost seeding of legumes and grasses can be used by graziers as a means to improve pasture yields or change forage species composition within the pasture without complete renovation.
Frost seeding offers several potential advantages over other seeding methods, including the ability to establish forage in an undis
