|
Alfalfa
Year-Round IPM Program
(Reviewed 11/06, updated
11/06)
These practices are recommended for a monitoring-based
IPM program that reduces water quality problems related
to pesticide use. Links take you to information on
how to monitor, forms to use, and management practices.
Track your progress through the first year with
the annual checklist form.
For established stands, download the annual
checklist form for established stands only. This year-round program
covers the major pests that affect fall-planted alfalfa
hay in the Sacramento or the San Joaquin valleys.
Information about other pests is included in the
Alfalfa Pest Management Guidelines.
Water quality becomes impaired when pesticides move off-site
and into water. Each time a pesticide application is considered,
review the Pesticide Application Checklist at
the bottom of this page for information on how to minimize water
quality problems.
Note: For IPM practices during preplanting and stand
establishment period see Establishing
a stand
Winter (November through January) |
![Winter activities](winter.jpg) |
Special issues of concern
related to water quality: drift,
runoff due to rain. |
![Spring activities](spring.jpg) |
Special issues of concern
related to water quality: runoff due to rain, irrigation
or drift. |
![Summer activities](summer.jpg) |
Special issues of concern
related to water quality: drift, runoff due to irrigation. |
![Fall activities](fall.jpg) |
Special issues of concern
related to water quality: drift,
runoff due to rain, irrigation. |
**Pesticide application checklist |
When planning for possible pesticide applications in
an IPM program, review and complete this checklist to consider
practices that minimize environmental and efficacy problems.
- Choose
a pesticide from the UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines
for the target pest considering:
Select an alternative chemical
or nonchemical treatment when risk is high.
- Choose sprayers and application procedures that keep pesticides
on target.
- Avoid spraying areas of bare soil, such as weevil-damaged
areas, with pesticides prone to cause water quality problems;
consider overseeding these areas with grasses.
- Identify and take special care to protect sensitive
areas (for example, waterways or riparian areas) surrounding
your application site.
- Review and follow label for pesticide handling, storage,
and disposal guidelines.
- Be aware of reentry times and pre- and postharvest
intervals.
- After an application is made, record application date,
product used, rate, and location of application. Follow
up to confirm that treatment was effective.
Consider water
management practices that reduce pesticide movement off-site.
- Install an
irrigation recirculation or storage and reuse system.
- Use
drip rather than sprinkler or flood irrigation.
- Limit
irrigation to amount required using soil moisture monitoring
and ET.
- Consider vegetative
filter strips or ditches .
- Redesign
inlets into tailwater ditches to reduce erosion. Ditches
should not be lower than furrows.
|
Top of page
|