Alfalfa Fall Dormancy Ratings: The Short Answer
Fall dormancy (FD) is the single most important trait to check before you buy alfalfa seed. It is a score from 1 to 11 that tells you how much an alfalfa variety slows down and stops growing as autumn days shorten and temperatures fall. Dormant varieties (FD 1–3) shut down early and survive hard winters. Semi-dormant varieties (FD 4–6) sit in the middle. Non-dormant varieties (FD 7–9) and very non-dormant varieties (FD 10–11) keep growing through cool weather and give the most cuttings in warm, irrigated, frost-free or mild-winter regions.
Choosing the wrong dormancy for your climate is the most common and most expensive alfalfa seed mistake. A dormant variety sown in a hot, year-round-growing region wastes cutting months. A non-dormant variety sown where winters are hard can winterkill in the first year. This guide explains how the ratings work, how to match them to a country or region, and what importers should ask a seed exporter to confirm in writing.
What Fall Dormancy Actually Measures
Fall dormancy is measured in field trials by comparing autumn regrowth height after the last cut. Breeders sow each new variety alongside standard check varieties of known rating and record how tall the plants are about a month after a late-season harvest. Short, rosette-like autumn growth earns a low score; tall, upright regrowth earns a high one. The scale runs from 1 (most dormant) to 11 (least dormant).
The rating is a proxy for two things buyers actually care about: winter hardiness (can the crown survive freezing temperatures?) and yield potential (how much forage does the plant make in a long season?). In general, the more a variety keeps growing in autumn, the more tonnage it can produce in a long warm season, and the less cold it can tolerate. The two goals pull in opposite directions, and the rating is where that trade-off is written down.
Dormant, Semi-Dormant and Non-Dormant: Side by Side
| Group | FD rating | Best climate | Typical strengths | Main risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dormant | 1–3 | Cold continental winters, high altitude, northern latitudes | Winter hardiness, persistence, stable stands | Fewer cuttings, slower regrowth in heat |
| Semi-dormant | 4–6 | Temperate, moderate winters, Mediterranean-type climates | Balanced yield and hardiness | Needs matching to local frost risk |
| Non-dormant | 7–9 | Hot, irrigated regions with mild or no frost | Fast regrowth, more cuttings per year | Winterkill where hard frosts occur |
| Very non-dormant | 10–11 | Hot desert and subtropical irrigation | Year-round growth, maximum cuttings | Poor persistence in any real winter |
Values are general guidance. Local frost frequency, irrigation, soil and disease pressure all move the real result, so treat the table as a starting point and confirm with a local agronomist.
Matching Dormancy to Your Country or Region
Gulf, Egypt, Sudan and North Africa
Hot, irrigated systems with little or no frost generally favour non-dormant types. Growers in these markets cut every 25 to 35 days through the warm season and want varieties that keep producing when temperatures are high. Heat tolerance and salinity tolerance matter as much as the dormancy number. See our dedicated buyer guides for Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Sudan, Morocco and the wider GCC.
East and Southern Africa
Altitude changes the answer. Lowland irrigated schemes lean non-dormant; highland dairy areas with cool nights often do better with semi-dormant types that handle cool seasons without winterkill risk. See Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania and South Africa.
South America
The continent spans every climate. Warm northern and coastal irrigated regions favour non-dormant types; the temperate Pampas and Patagonian south favour semi-dormant to dormant ones. See Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Peru and Colombia.
Central Asia and cold-winter Europe
Hard winters make hardiness the priority. Dormant and semi-dormant types with a proven record of surviving frozen soil are the safe choice. See Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Russia and Latvia.
Dormancy Is Not the Only Trait to Check
Two varieties with the same FD rating can behave very differently. When you buy, ask for the full variety profile, not just the dormancy number:
- Disease resistance — bacterial wilt, Fusarium wilt, Phytophthora root rot, anthracnose, and for non-dormant types aphid and nematode resistance.
- Persistence — how many years a stand keeps producing under your cutting schedule.
- Forage quality — crude protein, fibre digestibility and leafiness.
- Salinity and heat tolerance — essential in Gulf, Nile Valley and North African irrigation.
- Seed quality — physical purity, germination, hard seed percentage and, critically, freedom from dodder (Cuscuta), a quarantine weed many importing countries test for.
How Kohenoor Varieties Fit
Kohenoor International supplies alfalfa seed from Pakistan to importers in more than 70 countries. Our range includes KN92, a cold-hardy type selected for cooler regions, and Taiztar, a heat-tolerant type suited to warm, irrigated production. Seed is supplied at 99.5%+ physical purity with 85%+ germination, dodder-free, with a Certificate of Analysis for each lot and FOB Karachi terms. Because dormancy and suitability depend on your climate, we recommend telling us your country, altitude, irrigation method and cutting plan so we can recommend the right variety rather than the most convenient one. Details are on our alfalfa seed exporter page.
What Importers Should Ask a Seed Supplier to Put in Writing
- The variety name and fall dormancy rating, with the trial or reference it comes from.
- A Certificate of Analysis for the actual lot: purity, germination, hard seed, other crop seed, weed seed and dodder.
- The phytosanitary certificate and any import-permit requirements of your country.
- The packing (commonly 25 kg bags), net weight and labelling language.
- The Incoterm and port (for example FOB Karachi or CFR your port) and expected transit time.
- A pre-shipment sample so you can run your own germination test before the container leaves.
For the paperwork side of importing, read our guide to importing seeds from Pakistan. For field practice after the seed arrives, see the alfalfa growing guide, and if you are comparing forage legumes, our alfalfa vs berseem clover comparison.
Common Mistakes When Choosing Dormancy
- Buying the highest-yielding number for a cold region. A top-yielding non-dormant variety can lose its crowns in a single hard winter.
- Buying a very dormant type for a hot desert. The plant slows in heat and you lose cuttings every season.
- Ignoring irrigation and salinity. Dormancy does not tell you how a variety handles salty water.
- Accepting a rating with no source. Ask which check varieties and trial years the score was based on.
- Skipping a sample test. Germination on the certificate and germination after months in transit can differ.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is alfalfa fall dormancy?
Fall dormancy is a 1–11 rating of how strongly an alfalfa variety stops growing in autumn. Low numbers mean early shutdown and good winter hardiness. High numbers mean continued growth in cool weather and higher yield in warm regions.
What is the difference between dormant and non-dormant alfalfa?
Dormant alfalfa (FD 1–3) survives cold winters but gives fewer cuttings. Non-dormant alfalfa (FD 7–11) keeps growing in mild weather and gives more cuttings, but can be killed by hard frosts.
Which alfalfa fall dormancy is best for hot climates?
Hot, irrigated and frost-free regions such as the Gulf, the Nile Valley and parts of Africa generally use non-dormant types (FD 7–9 or higher) with good heat and salinity tolerance.
Can I buy alfalfa seed from Pakistan for export?
Yes. Kohenoor International exports dodder-free alfalfa seed from Pakistan, including the cold-hardy KN92 and heat-tolerant Taiztar varieties, with a Certificate of Analysis per lot, a phytosanitary certificate and FOB Karachi terms.
How do I test alfalfa seed quality before importing?
Ask for a pre-shipment sample, run a standard germination test and request a purity and dodder analysis for the lot. Our guide to alfalfa germination testing explains the steps.