Watch this before buying alfalfa pallets.

The reality is that alfalfa pellets are more cheaper than alfalfa meal, and this is because of a reason.

Learn why you want to go with alfalfa meal if you want to feed your soil to grow wonderful crops.

Of course if you are in a tight budget, alfalfa pellets are better than nothing.

Mark, the host of “I’m Organic Gardening,” located in Zone Six, New Jersey, introduces the topic of alfalfa meal and alfalfa pellets. He explains that alfalfa belongs to the legume family and has the unique ability to bring up nitrogen from the soil through nodules on the root system containing rhizobium bacteria. The nodules store the nitrogen until it’s all set and then bring it up to the plant when it’s flowering, changing that nitrogen into proteins that are good for animals on the farm. The plant also creates little white bumps on the roots where the rhizobium bacteria have infected the root and are growing nodules that process and make nitrogen available to the plant and other plants in the ground.

Mark shows the viewers what the alfalfa meal and alfalfa pellets look like, laying out the same amount in two bowls. He points out that there is a difference between the two, with the alfalfa meal being fine, lightweight, and powdery, while the alfalfa pellets are compressed and have a nice dark green color. He notes that not all alfalfa is the same, and its quality can vary, which is reflected in the guaranteed analysis of the alfalfa product, which is based on how much protein or nitrogen is in the alfalfa.

Mark hydrates both bowls for 24 hours and then takes a small sample to see if there is any bacteria growing. He explains that bacteria and fungi cover the surface of plants as a barrier against diseases and are also part of the plant’s immune system. Mark then shows viewers his microscope and takes one droplet of each sample to put on a slide and look at it under the microscope at 400 magnification.

In summary, alfalfa is a legume that has the unique ability to bring up nitrogen from the soil through nodules on the root system containing rhizobium bacteria. The nodules store the nitrogen until it’s all set and then bring it up to the plant when it’s flowering, changing that nitrogen into proteins that are good for animals on the farm. Alfalfa meal and alfalfa pellets are made from the plant, with alfalfa meal being fine, lightweight, and powdery, while the alfalfa pellets are compressed and have a nice dark green color. The quality of alfalfa can vary, which is reflected in the guaranteed analysis of the alfalfa product, which is based on how much protein or nitrogen is in the alfalfa. Bacteria and fungi cover the surface of plants as a barrier against diseases and are also part of the plant’s immune system.