Countless plants are crowded together in an alfalfa field. Nobody can even begin to estimate their number, let alone determine it precisely. When growing this plant for the first time, the question arises: What sowing quantity is required for the cultivation area provided?
How many seeds do I need for sowing alfalfa?
The optimal alfalfa sowing rate is 2.5 to 3 grams of seeds per square meter to achieve a good harvest. This means that around 25 to 30 kg of seeds are sown on a 1 hectare area. If there is a risk of birds, the quantity can be increased or the seeds can be protected.
Green manure or food?
In order to determine the sowing rate, it must first be clarified what the purpose of cultivation is. Lucernes are usually grown by amateur gardeners for three reasons:
- as green manure
- as animal feed
- as food for itself
When which quantity?
Anyone who has sown alfalfa in the bed often knows from experience what quantities they need to grow in order to fully meet their expectations. The following guidelines can help a newbie:
- Selected beds are completely sown to establish the foundation
- A handful of plants are enough for self-sufficiency with greenery
- there may be a few more than animal feed
- also when seeds are required for sprouts
Tip
Last but not least, the available area can also determine the sowing rate. Since alfalfa seeds are quite inexpensive, you should make generous use of all fallow areas for sowing them.
Determine the size of the cultivated area
The sowing rate is largely determined by the size of the intended cultivation area. This should be measured as precisely as possible before procuring seeds. The exact number of square meters is then calculated based on the values obtained.
The optimal seed strength
How many seeds are needed per square meter? The so-called seed strength can provide us with information about this. It indicates how densely the seeds can be so that the maximum yield can be achieved from the available area. When it comes to alfalfa, it states that around 25 to 30 kg of seeds should be sown on a 1 hectare area in order to get a good harvest.
That's 2.5 to 3 grams of seeds per square meter. Multiply this value by the determined area size in m² and you get the required sowing quantity in grams.
Tip
If birds often circle over your beds at the time of cultivation, some seeds will fall victim to them. Slightly increase the sowing rate or protect the seeds with foil until they sprout.
