Impact of soil and climate on alfalfa growth and yield

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) productivity is influenced by soil properties and climatic conditions, which are critical for sustainable forage production. This study evaluated the effects of soil type (acidic Retisol vs. fertile Cambisol), weather variables, and soil mobile aluminium (Al) on alfalfa productivity traits across multiple years (2019–2024) in Lithuania. Plant height (PH), fresh matter yield (FMY), dry matter yield (DMY), seed yield (SY) and stem number (SN) varied significantly with soil type and annual climate variability. Productivity was consistently higher in Cambisol, where lower mobile Al concentrations and neutral pH favoured growth. Precipitation, active temperature sum, and soil moisture were positively correlated with productivity traits, while mobile Al had a significant negative effect. Seed yield was adversely affected by heavy rainfall during ripening, especially in fertile soils with lush biomass. The findings highlight the importance of site-specific soil management, genotype selection, and climate adaptation strategies to improve alfalfa yield stability and sustainability in regions with diverse soil and climatic conditions.