KingFisher 401B

Product Description

KingFisher 401B is a new branch rooted alfalfa designed for wet areas. With excellent regrowth and high forage quality, this variety is very similar to KingFisher 444 but extends further south, down into Tennessee. This variety is very disease resistant

• Branch-rooted variety
• Excellent regrowth for wetter and heavier clay soils
• High forage quality

KingFisher 401B

KingFisher 401B is the forage base for many farms today. It is a legume that can fix most of its own nitrogen. Due to the pressures of the rotation schedule on many farms, KingFisher 401B stands are only in production for three or four years before decreases in productivity are noticed. It is important to get all the yield possible in this short time and these high performing varieties are what we focus on.

Establishment

KingFisher 401B can be planted in the spring or late summer, but we recommend late summer whenever possible. Planting depth should be 0.25 to 0.50 inches with good soil contact. If spring sown, a nurse crop of grass or small grain is recommended to maximize the tonnage in the seeding year. We usually recommend seeding grass with alfalfa to give a higher tonnage and better quality feed for the life of the stand. KingFisher 401B exhibits autotoxicity, which means established plants (older than 6 months) give off compounds that prevent new alfalfa seedlings from establishing.

Management

Once established, KingFisher 401B stand can last for many years. Many modern varieties can handle 28 day cutting schedules and in fact, some elite varieties need that type of management to perform their best. One very critical aspect of alfalfa management is knowing when to take the last cutting in the fall. By using Growing Degree Days (GDD) you can determine the best time to take the last fall cutting. An early fall cut can be taken as long as the plants can accumulate more than 500 GDD to replenish root reserves. A late fall cutting can be taken as long as no more than 200 GDD will accumulate before killing frost (25°F).

KingFisher-KF401B Tech Sheet