Drowned-Out Spots in Alfalfa Fields

Most alfalfa fields have at least some spots where the stand has been lost. Unfortunately some fields have large drowned-out areas that quickly become infested with grassy and broadleaf weeds. Even the small areas contaminate the clean hay from other areas of the field.  

The drowned-out spots can be filled in with ladino (white) clover. Here are some suggested steps if you want to keep weeds out of those spots:  

Improve drainage, if possible.  

Disk to kill weeds that have come in since the floods and to prepare a seed bed.  

Fertilize as for good alfalfa production.  

Sow white clover at about 3 or 4 lbs./acre. Seeds are much smaller than alfalfa.  

Use a well-adjusted grain drill or a double-roller seeder (Brillion) so that seeds are placed about 1/4 to ½ inch deep and packed with a press wheel or roller.  

Rows can be 15 or 20 inches apart because white clover will spread (vegetatively). This allows us to block some seed drops, if necessary to get the low planting rate.  

White clover should be sown in late September or very early October.  

Let it get established during the first winter. Do not graze white clover before it is well established (during the first spring or summer).  

Avoid the resown spots when applying dormant-season herbicides such as Sinbar or Velpar.  

Why use white clover??  

The drowned-out areas will become weedy and contaminate much of the hay in subsequent harvests if left alone.  

It is difficult (or impossible) to reestablish alfalfa in the wet spots.  

White clover will grow standing in water much better than alfalfa and most other clovers. This is especially true in western Oklahoma where rainfall is normally low. Normally white clover is not highly productive in western Oklahoma because of low rainfall but there is extra water in the drowned-out spots and it should survive.  

Alfalfa contaminated with white clover will not be noticed as grasses and most other clovers.  

White clover produces high quality hay (equal to alfalfa or better).  

Red clover (another perennial clover) makes black hay that would not look good mixed in alfalfa. Also, red clover tends to thin faster than alfalfa and does not spread vegetatively.  

Arrowleaf clover ( an annual clover) gets stemmy during June and July. In addition arrowleaf clover must reseed each year (not so for white clover).  

This might work to keep down the weeds and utilize the drowned-out spots. Some white clover will be in the first cuttings each spring but will not grow tall during hot, dry summers (later cuttings).