Abstract
Alfalfa, the most important forage crop grown in the United States, is harvested in this country from 15 million acres, and in the 1946–1947 season yielded 34 million tons of hay used principally for feeding stock. About 700,000 tons of alfalfa meal are used in mixed feeds, primarily for poultry, and also serve as a source for extraction of carotene, chlorophyll and xanthophyll.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature Cited
Anonymous. Glowing future predicted for alfalfa industry. Feedstuffs 18: 62. 1946.
American Breeders Association, Alfalfa and its improvement by breeding, Report of Committee for Breeding Forage Crops. Am. Breed. Assoc., Rep. 5: 94–115. 1909.
American Dehydrators Association Trade Rules, 1948.
Bechtel, S. I.et al. Dehydrated and suncured hay. Penn. Agr. Exp. Sta., Bull. 396. 1940.
Bickoff, E.M.et al. Alfalfa has a promising chemurgic future. Chemurgic Digest 6: 213, 216-218. 1947.
Brown, A., and Tisdall, F.F. The role of minerals and vitamins in growth and resistance to infection. Brit. Med. Jour. (—): 55–57. 1933.
Browne, C. A. Some relationships of soil to plant and animal nutrition—The major elements. U. S. Dept. Agr., Yearbook1938: 777–806.
Catron, Damon. Eaise more pigs with less feed. Am. Dehydrators Assoc. 1948.
Chibnall, A. C. Protein metabolism of plants. 306 pp. 1939.
Ewing, W.R. Poultry nutrition. Ray Ewing Publ. Co., So. Pasadena, Cal., 1947.
Fox, F. W., and Wilson, G. Lucerne as a food for human consumption. Johannesburg So. Afr. Inst. Med. Res. 17 p. and appendices 1 and 2. 1935.
Graber, L.F., and Sprague, V.G. The productivity of alfalfa as related to management. Jour. Am. Soc. Agron. 30: 38–54. 1938.
Grandfield, C. O., and Throckmorton, R. l. Alfalfa in Kansas. Kan. Agr. Exp. Sta., Bull. 328. 1945.
Griffiths, F.P.et al. Chemical utilization of alfalfa. Nat. Farm Chemurgic Coun., Chemurgic Papers, V, 490, 1946.
Hendry, G.W. Alfalfa in history. Jour. Am. Soc. Agron. 15: 171–176. 1923.
Hoffman, E. J.et al. Retention of carotene in alfalfa stored in atmospheres of low oxygen content. Jour. Agr. Res. 71: 361–373. 1945.
Powers, W.O. Boron in relation to soil fertility in the Pacific Southwest. Soil Sei. Soc. Am., Proc. 4: 290–296. 1940.
Schreiner, O., and Brown, B. E. Soil nitrogen. U. S. Dept. Agr., Yearbook 1938: 361–376.
Shepherd, J. B.et al. Comparative efficiency of siloing, barn curing, and field curing forage crops. U. S. Dept. Agr., Bur. Dairy Ind. -inf. 1947. [Mimeo.]
Taylor, M.W., and Russell, W.C. Stability of carotene in plant tissue. Jour. Nutrition 16: 1–13. 1938.
Toevs, J. L.et al. Phosphate fertilization pays. Univ. Idaho, War Cire. 44. 1945.
Tysdal, H. M., and Westover, H. L. Alfalfa improvement. U. S. Dept. Agr., Yearbook 1937: 1124–1153.
Tysdal, H.M., and Kiesselbach, T.A. Hybrid alfalfa. Jour. Am. Soc. Agron. 36: 649–667. 1944.
-. Breeding better alfalfa. U. S. Dept. Agr.; Yearbook 1943–1947: 433–438.
University of Nebraska, Nebraska Chemurgy Project, Fifth Annual Report, Chemurgy Project Bull. 6. 19 p. 1947.
U. S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Statistics. 1947.
U. S. Department of Agriculture, Grain Branch, Production and Marketing Administration, Alfalfa Production. [Mimeo. monthly, June 1948.]
Westover, H. L., and Hosterman, W. H. The uses of alfalfa. U. S. Dept. Agr., Farm Bull. 1839. 1940.
Wilder, O.H.M., and Bethke, R.M. The loss of carotene in machine-dried alfalfa meal under variable conditions of storage. Poul. Sci. 20: 304–312. 1941.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Bureau of Agricultural and Industrial Chemistry, Agricultural Research Administration, U. S. Department of Agriculture.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Griffiths, F.P. Production and utilization of alfalfa. Econ Bot 3, 170–183 (1949). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02859523
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02859523