1. The Alfalfa Yield Plateau: is Soil Fertility the Cause?

Alfalfa is a perennial forage legume known for its ability to produce high quality hay, earning it the title the “Queen of Forages.” It is produced across the United States as feed for the beef, dairy, and equine industries. During the 1950s, alfalfa yields rose exponentially due to advances in technologies such as improved varieties, synthetic fertilizers, and pesticides. However, yields plateaued at approximately 3.3 tons per acre in the 1980s for reasons not fully understood and... W. Fleming, E. Ritchey, C. Teutsch, J. Grove