Medicago sativa

Supported alfalfa identification

Record the character combination supporting identification, alternatives considered and evidence still missing.

1. Do leaflet margins, flower arrangement and mature pod form jointly support Medicago sativa over clovers, black medic or another Medicago? definition
2. Which photographs, specimen or expert determination support the identification, and were reproductive structures available? provenance

Documented biological material

Distinguish verified cultivar information from inferred traits and leave unresolved taxonomic assignments explicit.

1. What seed-lot or breeding record supports the cultivar name, dormancy rating, resistance claims or declared engineered traits? provenance
2. Does the chosen taxonomic authority include the observed falcata-associated or hybrid material within Medicago sativa, and how should uncertainty remain attached to this registry entry? boundary

Establishment success and reseeding context

Record emergence and mortality while retaining competition and potential autotoxicity as separate explanations for poor reseeding. [Alfalfa reseeding discussion](https://ucanr.edu/blog/sjc-and-delta-field-crops/article/alfalfa-qa-notes-field)

1. What proportion of the sown viable seed produced surviving seedlings, and how does survival vary across the sampled area? measurement
2. When was alfalfa last present, do old plants or decomposing crowns remain, and what local evidence is needed before reseeding? action

Root and symbiosis evidence

Record root extent, branching, lesions and nodule observations with the excavation method and limits of diagnosis.

1. What root depth or sampled root extent, branching pattern and nodule distribution are actually observed? measurement
2. What evidence supports effective nodulation, and what further assessment would distinguish ineffective nodules, root galls and other root abnormalities? definition

Recovery after defoliation

Record maturity, regrowth and cutting history when assessing harvest-persistence tradeoffs; avoid treating canopy height as a direct measurement of root reserves. [Harvest and regrowth guidance](https://blog-crop-news.extension.umn.edu/2022/05/managing-risk-at-first-alfalfa-harvest.html)

1. How many days have elapsed since the last defoliation, and what stem height, developmental stage and new-shoot distribution are observed? measurement
2. Does the stand's recovery and locally supported seasonal guidance justify another cut, grazing event or additional rest? action

Persistent live stand

Combine live crown counts, stem production, root inspection and cultivar context before assigning decline or mortality.

1. How have live crown density, stems per crown and the proportion of injured crowns changed between comparable surveys? measurement
2. What observations distinguish dormancy or delayed regrowth from irreversible crown death in this cultivar and climate? definition

Supported stress attribution

Retain competing explanations until plant observations and site measurements justify a causal assessment.

1. Which measured root-zone conditions and weather events coincide with wilting, yellowing, restricted roots or failed regrowth? measurement
2. What additional soil, tissue or root assessment would change the decision to irrigate, amend nutrition or defer intervention? action

Diagnosis-linked intervention

Require organism identification and relevant sampling before selecting an intervention, with linked checks for harvest intervals and pollinator effects. [UC alfalfa IPM guidance](https://ipm.ucanr.edu/agriculture/alfalfa/integrated-pest-management/)

1. What evidence distinguishes alfalfa weevil feeding, aphid injury, crown or root disease and non-biological damage in this stand? definition
2. Which locally validated threshold, crop stage and forage-versus-seed objective support intervention, and what harvest or pollinator constraints apply? action

Purpose-specific harvest readiness

Record the evidence for harvest timing and transfer the identity and condition of removed material to the relevant forage-product model.

1. What dry-matter yield, maturity distribution, leaf retention and measured forage composition support the intended harvest? measurement
2. Which observations must accompany harvested or grazed material into forage and livestock models before suitability for a particular animal group is decided? boundary

Effective reproduction and movement

Distinguish flower presence from viable seed and record neighbouring flowering alfalfa when assessing pollen-mediated trait movement. [Alfalfa coexistence guidance](https://ucanr.edu/blog/uc-weed-science-weed-control-management-ecology-and-minutia/article/co-existence-rr-and)

1. What pollinator activity, pod set, filled-seed counts and germination results demonstrate successful reproduction? measurement
2. Given neighbouring flowering alfalfa and observed volunteers, should flowering be retained for seed, interrupted or followed by recruitment monitoring? action

Kinds and varieties

Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.

1. Which of these kinds and varieties hold for the sense of Medicago sativa this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance

Identifiers and schemes

Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.

1. Which of these identifiers and schemes hold for the sense of Medicago sativa this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance

Standards and regulation

Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.

1. Which of these standards and regulation hold for the sense of Medicago sativa this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance

Real-world use

Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.

1. Which of these real-world use hold for the sense of Medicago sativa this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance

Typical measurements

Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.

1. Which of these typical measurements hold for the sense of Medicago sativa this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance

Failure modes and hazards

Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.

1. Which of these failure modes and hazards hold for the sense of Medicago sativa this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance

Regional variation

Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.

1. Which of these regional variation hold for the sense of Medicago sativa this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance

Neighbouring kinds and how to tell them apart

Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.

1. Which of these neighbouring kinds and how to tell them apart hold for the sense of Medicago sativa this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance