Climatic Conditions during Alfalfa Growing Period in Shuozhou City

Alfalfa is a kind of forage with high use value and economic value．Widespread planting of alfalfa in Shuozhou City is of great significance to increase farmers' income and social and economic development．Based on research on characteristic indexes of alfalfa growth, combined with the 30 years' average temperature, precipitation, light, wind speed, evaporation, accumulated temperature and other data in Shuozhou City from 1991 to 2020 compiled by the China Meteorological Administration and Information Center of Shanxi Provincial Meteorological Administration, it was pointed out that annual accumulated temperature, annual average temperature, sunshine and other meteorological factors in Shuozhou City met growth and development needs of alfalfa, and annual precipitation was insufficient for normal growth and development of alfalfa, On the premise that irrigation conditions could be guaranteed, large-scale planting could be carried out．There were some differences between planting of alfalfa in pingchuan district and mountain areas of Shuozhou City．Pingchuan district was more suitable for planting than mountain areas．The planting of alfalfa in mountain areas, especially on uneven land, could be used for grazing or to improve local ecological benefits．The best time to plant alfalfa in Shuozhou City was from middle of June to middle of July．If soil moisture wass good or there was irrigation conditions, alfalfa could also be planted from April to June．Alfalfa in pingchuan district was suitable for cutting 4 times a year, and alfalfa in mountainous areas was suitable for cutting 3 times a year．The planting of alfalfa in Shuozhou City has good economic value and use value, which could be popularized in a large area．It could provide a certain basis for planting of alfalfa in Shuozhou City．