Effect of Overseeding Forages into Alfalfa on Alfalfa Weevil, Forage Yield and Quality

Many alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) fields are sprayed each year with insecticides to control Egyptian alfalfa weevil (Hypera brunneipennis) and the alfalfa weevil (Hypera postica). Overseeding various species of legumes and grasses into established alfalfa has been proposed as a method to mitigate weevil damage without insecticides. Established fields of alfalfa were overseeded with legumes and grasses in randomized complete block designs in three years of study in a Mediterranean climate in the Sacramento Valley of California, USA. Several overseeding practices maintained or increased yields compared with the insecticide-sprayed treatment. Overseeding increased or maintained forage yield, eliminating the need for insecticides. However, overseeding did not prevent weevil damage to alfalfa. Overseeding is best used to extend the life of alfalfa stands in the final year of production, since overseeding can thin alfalfa stands. Market acceptance for mixed-species hay and harvest management of overseeded forages are the most important limitations to overseeding practices.